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[Dacvak]

Before the Switch 2 released, I had assumed that upgrading a S1 to S2 game would be either simple or automatic. That's what Nintendo implied, at least. And, in fact, that's what we saw with a handful of 1st-party Nintendo games. Games like Mario 3D World, Link's Awakening, Echoes of Wisdom, Splatoon 3, and a few others all simply got automatic updates that improved framerates, resolution, etc.

But now that a handful of 3rd-party games have gotten their upgrades, it's no longer clear how Nintendo are handling things on the back end. From what I can tell, most if not all of the upgrades to 3rd-party games require the developer to release essentially a completely bespoke Switch 2 Edition version of their game, with a different SKU and entry on the eShop. Recently, Hades II, Silksong, and BALLxPIT released on the Switch and S2 under different SKUs. However, for those games in particular, if you purchased the Switch 1 version, you had the option to upgrade to the S2 version for free through a separate transaction on the eShop.

I haven't confirmed this, but it makes me assume that since I bought Hades II initially for Switch 1 and THEN upgraded it to Switch 2, I should have the game available to play on both my S1 and S2 systems. But what if I had just purchased the S2 version from the outset? Would I not be able to play it on my S1?

Furthermore, is there some sort of restriction being placed by Nintendo that, in order for you to update your game to take advantage of S2 capabilities, you MUST release a bespoke Switch 2 Edition of the game? And if that's the case, is there an additional cost to developers/publishers by Nintendo?

Let's say I released my indie game on Switch 1 a few years ago, and I simply wanted to release a patch that would allow for 4K resolution, or 120fps framerate. Would I be able to simply issue an automatic update to my game, or does Nintendo require me to go through the entire submission process again and release a Switch 2 Edition upgrade (that I can presumably offer for free or not) on the eShop?

And what about other games, like Hogwarts Legacy, where owners of the original S1 version don't even have an upgrade path to the S2 version? They must rebuy the entire game. I guess Nintendo isn't regulating that?

The whole system is confusing, and my suspicion is that it's more complex for developers to utilize than simply updating their existing games for S2 compatibility. I'd love to know if anyone here has any additional info on what the upgrade process looks like on the back end, because it definitely seems convoluted and unclear.

 

[The_hunter]

It's all over the place. No upgrade path is crazy, but I don't have any 3rd party aaa switch 1 games.

 

[jshackles]

Seems to me like Switch 2 versions of games have entirely different SKUs. These are different from the updates to games like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which are just updates to the existing Switch 1 games to unlock the framerate and res. Seems Switch 1 games just run in as high of framerate and res as they're able to, so if its locked it'll be locked on Switch 2 also. See Vampire Survivors comparisons for the best example of this. Worth noting that these updates don't include more complex textures, the games still have to be able to run on Switch 1 hardware.

Switch 2 versions require either the game/update to be on the cart, or for users to buy the upgrade in the eShop, free or not. They'll usually include more complex textures, more stuff on the screen at once, essentially these versions aren't burdened by having to still run on the ancient Switch 1 chip.

I agree its extremely convoluted which makes it even more impressive that Microsoft (of all companies) figured this out ages ago on the Xbox One X.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Probably best to accept it as wild west.
It's better than no back compat at all.

 

[cireza]

For information, I bought the Switch 2 Edition of Kirby and you can put the game in a Switch 1 and play it without any issue. You simply don't get the Switch 2 content and the game is 30fps. Just like the Switch 1 Kirby actually.

So I think that there is a pretty clean way to do this (I like the idea of having the Switch 1 game and simply a real Switch 2 patch), and that Nintendo are actually doing this with all of their games, but third parties maybe don't follow the exact same path for reasons (cost, simplicity etc...).

 

[Dacvak]

For information, I bought the Switch 2 Edition of Kirby and you can put the game in a Switch 1 and play it without any issue. You simply don't get the Switch 2 content and the game is 30fps. Just like the Switch 1 Kirby actually.

So I think that there is a pretty clean way to do this (I like the idea of having the Switch 1 game and simply a real Switch 2 patch), and that Nintendo are actually doing this with all of their games, but third parties maybe don't follow the exact same path for reasons (cost, simplicity etc...).

That's really interesting about the physical versions. When you bought the game, did it say Switch 2 Edition on the box?

 

[semiconscious]

 

[Ceallach]

Furthermore, is there some sort of restriction being placed by Nintendo that, in order for you to update your game to take advantage of S2 capabilities, you MUST release a bespoke Switch 2 Edition of the game? And if that's the case, is there an additional cost to developers/publishers by Nintendo?

The opposite, they are setting no standards and doing nothing to ensure any kind of parity. Third parties can kinda do whatever they want for upgrades. Automatic, Manual, Free, Paid, it's whatever they want. It's fucking annoying.

 

[Loomy]

Welcome to Japanese video game UX!

 

[Dacvak]

The opposite, they are setting no standards and doing nothing to ensure any kind of parity. Third parties can kinda do whatever they want for upgrades. Automatic, Manual, Free, Paid, it's whatever they want. It's fucking annoying.

Is that true? Are there any examples of 3rd-party games receiving an automatic update that utilizes a S2 feature, like 4K or 120fps?

 

[cireza]

That's really interesting about the physical versions. When you bought the game, did it say Switch 2 Edition on the box?

Yes of course, it is the Switch 2 Edition.

That's my only "Switch 2" game.

My daughter has been playing it on her Switch Lite. Despite the box and coloring, this is a Switch 1 cart + the patch.

 

[Dacvak]

Yes of course, it is the Switch 2 Edition.

That's my only "Switch 2" game.

I'm guessing that somewhere on the box it says "compatible with Switch 1", right?

 

[cireza]

I'm guessing that somewhere on the box it says "compatible with Switch 1", right?

Nope
I have just checked.

 

[Ceallach]

Is that true? Are there any examples of 3rd-party games receiving an automatic update that utilizes a S2 feature, like 4K or 120fps?

Just going off of X chatter from alleged devs, I've seen no hard documentation ofc one way or the other. I could be full of shit for just repeating speculation.

But glass half empty says no pub is gonna give you those features for free.

 

[ReyBrujo]

Talking about physical copies, if the code of the Switch 2 game has LN then you can play it in both Switch 1 and Switch 2. If it starts with LP it's a game key game which can only be played on Switch 2. LB also only allows for Switch 2 games since they are Switch 2 native.

Regarding digital you can always play a Switch 1 game on Switch 2. Switch 2 games are supposedly tied to the Switch 2 console, you cannot buy them for a Switch 1.

 

[jshackles]

I'm guessing that somewhere on the box it says "compatible with Switch 1", right?

I have the "Switch 2 Edition" physical copy of Pokemon Z-A. It's the same way, game plays in the Switch 1 just fine, despite being the newer style "red" cartridge

The tiny print technically says it includes the Switch game and upgrade pack, which kind of sort of implies it plays on Switch 1, but doesn't specifically say that.

 

[jshackles]

And what about other games, like Hogwarts Legacy, where owners of the original S1 version don't even have an upgrade path to the S2 version? They must rebuy the entire game. I guess Nintendo isn't regulating that?

Lack of any sort of consistency is definitely what has led us to this point. For the record, Hogwarts Legacy is an especially weird case: you can upgrade to the Switch 2 version for $10 in the eShop, but ONLY if you launch the eShop from the game's main menu. And even when you do this, you're buying the FULL Switch 2 version of the game. It's kind of one of those weird loopholes where if you know someone that has a physical copy of the game, you can pop it in your Switch 2 then launch the eShop and buy the Switch 2 version digitally for $10. Eject the cartridge and hand it back to your friend, because it's not needed to launch the Switch 2 version you just bought.

Not sure why (or how) they even managed to set this up this way, but that's the way it works.

 

[p_xavier]

That's really interesting about the physical versions. When you bought the game, did it say Switch 2 Edition on the box?

It's a Switch 2 box with text that explains the context. Same as BOTW and other rereleases for Switch 2.