Have a burning question about the Nintendo Switch 2? This Nintendo Switch 2 FAQ and guide covers the price, launch games, game sharing and additional Switch 2 features.
How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 console cost?
The Nintendo Switch 2 console will have two options available at launch.
The base console includes the Switch 2 console, Joy-Con controllers, controller grip, a dock, power adaptor and HDMI cable. This has a recommended retail price of $449.99 / £395.99 / €469.99.
In addition, Nintendo is also launching with a bundle that includes a copy of Mario Kart World. This bundle has a recommended retail price of $499.99 / £429.99 / €509.99.
How much do the Nintendo Switch 2 games cost?
Nintendo Switch 2 games will vary in price depending on the title and whether purchasing a physical or digital copy.
Some titles will have a digital discount in the UK and Europe. At time of writing, this does not apply to the United States.
For example, Mario Kart World has a recommended retail price of at $79.99 / £66.99 / €79.99 for the digital edition. The physical version is $79.99 / £74.99 / €88.99.
At present, this is the maximum recommended retail price for Switch 2 games.
Other games, like Donkey Kong Bananza will retail at a lower price. $69.99 / £58.99 / €69.99 for the digital edition and $69.99 / £66.99 / €79.99 for a physical copy.
Third party games on Game-Key cards and remasters will retail for a lot less.
What Nintendo Switch 2 Games will be available at launch?
Multiple Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles are available to purchase, including:
- Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer
- Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
- Deltarune
- Fast Fusion
- Fortnite
- Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Mario Kart World
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
- NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION Awakening Complete Edition
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Sonic x Shadow Generations
- Split Fiction
- Street Fighter VI: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition
- Suikoden I&II HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch 2 – Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
- Survival Kids
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut
Why is the Nintendo Switch 2 console so expensive?
The Nintendo Switch 2 may be more expensive than initially expected. A few factors play into this. The Nintendo Switch 2 is an entirely new platform, rather than a revision, with more advanced components under the hood.
Electrical components have become more expensive due to availability and inflation reasons, too.
Nintendo historically doesn’t want to sell consoles with a loss.
Certain regions may have price implications due to trade – for example, the United States – and others have distribution costs, like Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Prices can fluctuate and it’s always recommended to compare pricing and offers between retailers.
Why are the Nintendo Switch 2 games so expensive?
Prices of a lot of technology have gone up due to inflation. Nintendo Switch 2 uses a proprietary cartridge format, which is more expensive to produce than Blu-ray discs. The new Switch 2 cartridges also allow Switch 2 consoles to read data faster than original Switch cartridges.
The original Switch cartridges came in different capacities (and thus prices); however, this doesn’t seem to be the case with Switch 2.
Nintendo has not, at time of writing, officially confirmed capacity options. However, sources suggest that there are two options, 3GB or 64GB, causing smaller titles to need to use the bigger, more expensive cartridge format.
Switch 2 games will vary, with Nintendo suggesting that only a handful would have the maximum recommended retail price.
What are Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key cards?
A Switch 2 Game-Key card is different from traditional game cards: a hybrid of physical and digital games.
The game data is not physically on the cartridge. The cartridge only contains a key that lets you download the game (without even having to access the eShop). The download will be tied to the cartridge, so the cartridge needs to be inserted to play the game.
It is not a single-use key but will always work wherever the cartridge is inserted. An internet connection is only required when the game is launched for the first time. After this, the game can be started whilst offline.
These are designed to use the cheaper cartridge capacity, as the main game data is downloaded onto the Nintendo Switch 2 system or microSD card.
More details on the process can be found on the Nintendo Game-Key card page.
Are Switch 2 Game-Key cards an improvement or not?
The Switch 2 Game-Key cards can be seen as improvement to traditional codes-in-a-box, because those are single use and can’t be borrowed or sold.
The new Game-Key cards can be shared with a friend or sold on as they are not locked to a specific Nintendo account.
However, compared to normal cartridges, Game-Key cards can be seen as a disadvantage for the consumer. The game will need to be downloaded before playing. No more plug-and-play.
There is also the uncertain nature of game availability in the future. Will the game still be available for download in 20 years or so?
Why are so many Switch 2 games released on a Game-Key card?
At present, all Nintendo first-party titles are released, in full, on regular cards.
The biggest factor for many Switch 2 third-party titles on Game-Key cards is the high cost of the Switch 2 cartridges. The standard (non-Game-Key) cards are rumoured to cost around $15 to produce.
Game-Key cards are presumably much cheaper due to not needing much storage.
What are Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of games?
Several games for the original Switch are getting a re-release on the Switch 2.
The Switch 2 Editions will not only have performance improvements, but some will offer additional content. Switch 2 Editions are released on cartridges and on the eShop. If you already own the Switch version, you can buy an upgrade pack to add the improvements to the game.
Do Nintendo Switch 2 Edition cartridges contain the whole game, or do they need a download?
After some initial confusion, it seems that the games do indeed contain the whole Switch 2 game. No download required.
The confusion likely stemmed from a disclaimer on the box art, which notes that you can get the upgrade pack if you already own the Switch game.
Some DLC content, however, may not be included and would need to be purchased separately – for example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
How expensive are the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs?
Pricing for Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs do vary.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom upgrade packs are $9.99/£7.99/€9.99.
Kirby: The Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree upgrade packs, which offer additional levels/modes, will be $19.99/£16.99/€19.99.
If you are subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, the upgrades for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be free as long as you are subscribed.
Is an Upgrade Pack needed to make Nintendo Switch games run better on Nintendo Switch 2?
For a number of games, Nintendo is working on free patches to offer visual and performance improvements.
A full list of free Switch 2 updates can be found on the Nintendo website. Highlights include: ARMS, 51 Worldwide Games, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet and Super Mario Odyssey.
More free patches might follow, also from third party publishers. There are also examples of games without patches but still have performance improvements on the Switch 2 – for example, shorter loading times.
It is unclear, however, if this only works with downloaded games or also with physical original Nintendo Switch cartridges due to data read times.
Can I play all my original Nintendo Switch games on Nintendo Switch 2?
No, not all original Nintendo Switch games will run on Nintendo Switch 2.
Some titles, like Nintendo Labo: VR Kit cannot be played on a Switch 2 console because the game system does not fit into the Labo headset.
A few games require Switch 1 Joy-Con controllers, like Ring Fit Adventure. At time of writing, several games have in-game issues or won’t even start on the Switch 2. Nintendo and other publishers could address these issues with patches, but this is not required.
A list of Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility issues can be found on the Nintendo website.
Why can’t normal MicroSD cards be used on Nintendo Switch 2?
For extra storage space, the Nintendo Switch 2 uses optional MicroSD Express cards, compared to regular MicroSD cards on the original Switch.
MicroSD Express are much faster than regular MicroSD cards. Because games are becoming bigger, the Switch needs this faster storage medium to run games properly.
The Express cards are also more expensive to produce than regular MicroSD cards.
As Express becomes more widely used, the price could potentially go down.
Purchase an official microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 (Amazon UK)
Do I need to buy a MicroSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2?
If you don’t need the storage space right now, it might be wise to wait with your purchase.
The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256 GB total system storage, with a portion reserved for the system itself.
In the meantime, you can save storage space by only downloading the games that you plan on playing and deleting them once done. Games can always be re-downloaded at any time from the Nintendo eShop.
What is Nintendo Switch 2 GameShare and is it the same as Download Play on Nintendo DS?
Nintendo Switch 2 allows for certain games to be shared across multiple Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems with just one copy.
Previously on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, (parts of) the game data would be sent from the host system with the game to the systems without a game. Each system would then run the game individually.
With GameShare on the Switch 2, the host system with the game renders the screens for the other systems and then streams it to them. All the receiving systems do is show this video stream and send back any player input to the host console.
This does mean that the Switch 2 with the game has to do a lot of processing and that’s why not too many games can support the feature.
Currently supported titles include 51 Worldwide Games, Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
For more information on Nintendo Switch 2 GameShare and how it works, visit the Nintendo FAQ page.
Does Mario Kart World feature GameShare?
No, although there was some confusion about Mario Kart World compatibility when first announced.
Four-player local multiplayer has been announced, but all Switch 2 consoles will need a copy of Mario Kart World.
What is Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat and which games are supported?
The Nintendo Switch 2 will allow a group of up to 12 people to chat together whilst playing games.
Up to four people can share their game-screen or take part in video chat simultaneously, too – similar to Zoom or Discord.
GameChat is included with Nintendo Switch Online membership. Until 31st March 2026, GameChat can, however, be used without a Nintendo Switch Online membership via an open-access period.
For more information on GameChat for Nintendo Switch 2, visit the Nintendo website.
Why is the game feed slow during GameChat?
To save resources on the Switch 2 as the system would prioritise performance of the game itself, with feeds from friends being a secondary feature.
Basically, the feed of your friend’s game would then look better, but your own game would look worse, if Nintendo were to improve the game feed performance.
Can I use my own webcam for Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo notes how a “compatible USB-C camera” would work. However, it is unclear what makes a USB-C camera compatible. The Switch 2 does have a system setting to test compatible cameras, however.
It’s not known, at time of writing, if the dock itself can accept a USB-A camera. More information and user testing may be required.
Will GameCube games be available on Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo has confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers will be able to access GameCube games at launch, with more titles available in the future.
The initial launch GameCube games for Switch 2 are:
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur II.
Other titles confirmed for a later date include:
Super Mario Strikers, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Luigi’s Mansion, Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Chibi-Robo! and Super Mario Sunshine.
What is the Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller?
The Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller is a reproduction of the original GameCube controller, specifically designed for use in the GameCube Nintendo Classics app.
It features a few additional buttons: ZL, Home, Capture, and C for GameChat.
Can the GameCube controller be used for other games?
The GameCube controller can be used outside the GameCube Nintendo Classics app, but with some possible limitations.
The GameCube controller does not feature motion controls or clickable sticks, for example, so mileage may vary. If a game depends on those features, it may be best to use the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 controllers instead.
Other than that, the GameCube controller can be used just fine.
