Nintendo Fine Print Reveals 'Nintendo Switch 2 Edition' Games and Fans Are Trying to Work Out What That Means

Today's Nintendo Direct announcement of a caller Virtual Game Cards diagnostic for sharing games betwixt systems is being met with astonishment and involvement from fans. But it's besides raising immoderate questions, astir notably 1 astir the Nintendo Switch 2, acknowledgment to a good people footnote connected an authoritative Nintendo webpage.

The question comes from this page, which explains however Virtual Game Cards work. Most of what's present is reasonably straightforward (well, arsenic straightforward arsenic thing is). But there's a fascinating footnote astatine the bottommost of the page, tied to the diagnostic of moving games betwixt Switch systems. It reads:

**Compatible systems indispensable beryllium linked to a Nintendo Account to usage virtual crippled cards. Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games tin lone beryllium loaded connected a Nintendo Switch 2 system. To determination virtual crippled cards betwixt 2 systems, you indispensable brace the systems via section wireless and an net connection, but lone erstwhile pairing the systems for the archetypal time. Up to 2 systems full tin beryllium linked per Nintendo Account.

What's throwing radical present is the phrasing "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games." The portion astir "exclusive games" is straightforward enough, arsenic we already knew determination would beryllium games that are lone playable connected the Nintendo Switch 2, and not the existent Switch. But we besides cognize that the Nintendo Switch 2 is backwards compatible with Switch 1 (mostly). So what is simply a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game?

Some fans are suggesting this is simply a subtle confirmation that determination volition beryllium immoderate "enhanced editions" of existing Switch games that adhd caller features oregon improved performance, lone for Switch 2. If that's the case, it would marque consciousness that purchasing them connected Switch 2 would not let them to beryllium shared with a Switch 1, due to the fact that they simply wouldn't relation correctly and would efficaciously beryllium a antithetic variation of the mentation connected Switch 1.

That's not the lone mentation though. Some others are speculating that this doesn't corroborate anything, simply suggests an unfortunate concern wherever users won't beryllium capable to usage Nintendo's shiny caller Virtual Game Card diagnostic to nonstop immoderate oregon each Nintendo Switch 2 games backward to Switch 1, adjacent if they're the aforesaid game. It's besides imaginable this doesn't suggest thing successful particular, but simply opens the doorway successful the aboriginal for third-parties to merchandise Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of games if they consciousness similar it.

We reached retired to Nintendo to effort to get a clarification, but were told by a spokesperson they would person an reply for america connected April 2, conveniently the time of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Just bent successful determination a small spot longer, everyone.

Rebekah Valentine is simply a elder newsman for IGN. You tin find her posting connected BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a communicative tip? Send it to [email protected].