At first glance, the concept of Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of older Switch games seems like a great idea. By enhancing older games, players will receive an improved, smoother gameplay experience that makes these beloved titles even better. Moreover, they are an ideal method for Nintendo to prove the Switch 2's capabilities over its predecessor, boosting the new console's appeal while giving these titles a new lease of life.

Unfortunately, despite the benefits of Switch 2 Edition games, Nintendo has placed a significant and confusing barrier to entry for players. This decision not only feels unjustifiable due to the minor additions to these upgraded titles, but it also feels unfair to those unable to access the Switch 2 Edition games. As a result, these titles may end up having an adverse effect on the Nintendo Switch 2, lowering the console's appeal rather than improving it.

Switch 2 Editions Come At A Cost

Players Will Have To Pay For The Upgrade

As revealed during the Switch 2 Direct, owners of certain Switch games will have to pay a fee to receive an upgraded experience on the new console. This was further corroborated by Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product & Player Experience, who recently revealed that both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, will cost players $9.99 USD to the Switch 2 Edition. The pricing of the upgrade packs alone will initially come as a shock to those simply looking for a smoother gameplay experience.

Nintendo confirmed in a video ed to YouTube that owners of BOTW or TOTK with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack hip can upgrade the games at no extra cost. It hasn't been confirmed whether the same will apply to other Switch 2 Edition upgrades.

Unfortunately, the high cost of Switch 2 Edition games could be worse for those who don't currently own these older titles. For example, while Nintendo has revealed no official information regarding the game's pricing and its upgrade pack, Walmart has TOTK's Switch 2 Edition priced at $79, making it almost $10 more expensive than when the title first released on Switch. This massive jump in overall price puts new players at a major disadvantage while limiting overall access to the versions of these beloved titles.

It's hard not to see this decision on Switch 2 Edition games as anything other than frustrating. By placing prices on these upgrades, Nintendo is preventing players from taking full advantage of the Switch 2 and its enhanced capabilities, making the new console less appealing. This is only compounded by the possibility that titles such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which includes additional content within its Switch 2 Edition, could be priced higher than other titles, with Walmart listing the new version as almost $20 more expensive than its original release, making a purchase less appealing.

Switch 2 Edition Games Offer Little In Return

The Upgrades Fail To Justify The Pricing

What makes the pricing for Switch 2 Edition games even more frustrating is how the upgrades given to older titles fail to justify the additional cost. For example, while BOTW and TOTK offer enhanced resolution and frame rates with their Switch 2 Editions, alongside additional functionality with the Nintendo Switch app, no changes have been made to the base games, essentially offering an identical experience to before. This is also the case with multiple other Switch 2 Edition games, including the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which offers little beyond improved performance and additional mouse controls.

That's not to say none of these games offer additional content with their Switch 2 Editions, as both Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land offer new inclusions for returning players. Yet, even these additions are relatively minor, with Jamboree simply adding a few side modes that take advantage of the Switch 2's mouse controls and camera add-on. When considering these minor additions with the higher prices these games may have compared to other titles like BOTW or TOTK, it fails to offer a worthwhile reward to players who pay for an upgrade.

It puts into question the worth of Switch 2 Edition games existing to begin with.

The lack of upgrades being given to players makes the changeover to the Switch 2 Editions feel like a pointless endeavor. The huge demand being made by Nintendo for players to go for the upgrade, only to receive little in return, will only deter them from making such a commitment, moving towards each game's native version instead. With Nintendo creating a pricing plan that actively prevents certain players from experiencing updated versions of beloved titles, it puts into question the worth of Switch 2 Edition games existing to begin with.

Switch 2 Edition Game Pricing Feels Like A Punishment

It Hurts The Overall Appeal Of The Console

With the Switch 2 Edition game pricing, Nintendo has made upgrading older Switch titles feel more like a punishment than a reward. The additional fees that current owners must pay for an upgrade pack come across as penalties for wanting a smoother experience than before. Meanwhile, the high prices of the full package give off this sense of spite towards players who missed out on these titles beforehand, making they almost inaccessible.

It should be noted that other select Nintendo Switch titles will receive a free update to improve performance on the Nintendo Switch 2. However, these upgrades are not as substantial, hence they are not being classed as separate editions for the new console.

The prices of the Switch 2 Edition games also negatively affect the new console's overall appeal. By limiting the accessibility of these upgraded versions of beloved titles, Nintendo fails to present the Switch 2 as a necessary upgrade for players. As a result, many current Switch owners may be less inclined to make the jump to Switch 2, possibly affecting the new console's early success.

There's no doubt that Switch 2 Edition games offer a smoother and more enjoyable way to play beloved Switch titles. Yet, Nintendo's decision to place additional fees on these upgrades will serve as a huge deterrent for many players as moving to the new console becomes costly. Plus, with the little that players will receive in return for purchasing the upgrade, it further lessens the appeal of the Switch 2 and its updated versions of older titles, as the price itself is simply unjustifiable.

Sources: Nintendo of America/YouTube, Nintendo of America/YouTube, Walmart (1, 2)