Summary
Nintendo has revealed the price details for two of its previously revealed game upgrade packs for the Switch 2, specifically the upgrade packs forThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and its 2023 successor,Tears of the Kingdom. These Switch 2 upgrade packs, initially revealed during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct event earlier this month, will allow players to enjoy select games such asBreath of the Wildat superior frame rates and resolutions on the Switch 2, while also introducing some new functions in some cases.
Although the Switch 2 isn’t totally compatible with the original Nintendo Switch on a technical level, Nintendo has assured fans that the majority of Switch titles will be backwards-compatible with the upcoming console, with few exceptions. Beyond simply being playable on the Switch 2 console, a small selection of popular Nintendo titles will be receiving paid “upgrade packs,” which will allow players to enjoy them at higher frame rates and resolutions by taking full advantage ofthe Switch 2’s vastly improved hardware. Nintendo has been careful to explain that not every game’s upgrade pack will offer the same benefits, and while performance boosts will no doubt be universal across them, some will introduce new features and even game modes.
Nintendo didn’t reveal how much these upgrade packs would cost fans during the recent Direct, but a recentinterview that IGN held with Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Product and Player Experience, has revealed the pricing details for theZeldaupgrade packs specifically. As long as players already own the base software forBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, theirrespective Switch 2 upgrade packswill cost $9.99 each – less than some fans might’ve feared, but more than others may have hoped. International pricing for these games' upgrade packs has not yet been confirmed, though prices around the world will likely translate to the same $9.99 USD.
Not Every Switch 2 Upgrade Pack May Be Priced Equally
It’s important to note that prices for upgrade packs confirmed for other games have not been shared yet. Other games to include paid upgrade packs includeSuper Mario Party Jamboree,Kirby and the Forgotten Land,Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, andPokemon Legends: Z-A, with the latter two scheduled to launch for both the Switch and Switch 2 consoles later this year.Pricing details for these unreleased Switch 2 gamesaren’t yet set in stone, and it’s unclear whether they’ll launch as bundles including their Switch 2 upgrade packs.
That said, anews article from the official Nintendo websitedoes confirm that Nintendo Switch 2 owners paying for the Switch Online + Expansion Pack service will gain access to the upgrade packs forBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomat no added cost. Early hands-onpreviews of theZeldagames on the Switch 2have yielded positive reviews, with many claiming that the games' upgrade packs offer a substantially improved overall experience thanks to smoother performance and crisper visuals.
