Certain game cards for the Nintendo Switch 2 will also be compatible with the original Switch.

      Marvelous

      Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is set to be a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2; however, the same cartridge will also be compatible with the original Nintendo Switch, as stated by the publisher, Marvelous. Even the “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” of the game will function on the original Switch, albeit without the upgraded graphical enhancements.

      “There’s no need to download the full game,” the team notes on the FAQ page for Guardians of Azuma. “Just insert the cartridge into either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 console, and the appropriate version will automatically launch.” The game will be available on both consoles, with the only distinction being that the Nintendo Switch 2 version comes with the Upgrade Pack along with the game.

      If you buy the Nintendo Switch version, it will also be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2. You will simply need to pay a $10 upgrade fee. According to Marvelous, this will provide “higher resolution visuals for a clearer, more immersive experience; improved frame rates for smoother gameplay; and support for the new mouse functionality of the Joy-Con 2 controllers.”

      It remains uncertain whether other cross-generation titles will have interchangeable game cards. While it is largely confirmed that Nintendo Switch games will run on the Nintendo Switch 2, the reverse is still ambiguous. However, Marvelous’ announcement suggests this could be a possibility. This feature resembles Xbox’s Smart Delivery, where the correct game version is launched according to the console being used.

      At least six Nintendo Switch games have been confirmed to include a Nintendo Switch 2 edition: Super Mario Party Jamboree, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime 4, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Pokemon Legends Z-A. Developers have also indicated that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be a cross-generation launch, although it will likely not have a physical game cartridge.

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