Variable pricing raises questions as fans speculate on upcoming Switch 2 editions.
It’s a new year, and Nintendo is still improving old games for the Switch. Now the big question is: which games will be the next ones to get a Switch 2 Edition update? The company hasn’t officially announced what games it will be releasing next, but rumors are rising. People are also talking about how its pricing strategy is becoming more and more unpredictable.
Fans have mostly been positive about the idea of Switch 2 Editions. The idea is simple: take well-known Nintendo Switch games and make them better by adding better graphics, faster speed, and technical changes that work with the newer hardware. And that’s an easy sell for a lot of players. The launch hasn’t been perfect, though.
It’s not the changes themselves that are making fans suspicious, but the way Nintendo is charging for them.
To get some games, you have to pay $10. Some cost $5. Upgrades are sometimes tied to buying downloaded content, which means that players have to buy more DLC before they can even use the improved version. Some longtime fans don’t know what to expect going forward because there isn’t a standard way to set prices.
Even though there are worries about the price, there is still a lot of excitement about which big first-party games might get the next Switch 2 Edition treatment.
If the next main Smash Bros. game isn’t coming out for a while, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a clear choice for a Switch 2 Edition. It was one of the most popular games on the original Switch and is still an important part of Nintendo’s online system.
A new version with better speed, faster load times, and maybe even better graphics would almost certainly get a lot of attention.
But the way the prices are set will matter. Some players might think that $10 is too much if there isn’t any extra material. The upgrade could be included in the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack as a way to thank loyal users who already pay a year for premium access.
Members of the Expansion Pack could get the update for free, which would help calm people’s concerns about prices and keep the goodwill of the most dedicated players.
Metroid Dread is another great game that should be made into a Switch 2 Edition. The game has already been hailed for its clear graphics and smooth gameplay. Adding 4K resolution in docked mode and higher frame rates, possibly even 120 FPS, could make it shine even brighter on new hardware.
In the same way, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is still a fan favorite that could use better speed and graphics. Since Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is already getting a lot of attention, Nintendo should keep the progress going by making Tropical Freeze better for Switch 2.
For these games, adding new content might not be necessary. Better resolution, better graphics, and faster load times might be enough to get people to come back.
Better performance could also have a big effect on Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, which runs at 30 frames per second on the original Switch. Switch 2 should get a 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. This would make the game run smoothly, which is what many fans wanted.
It’s the same with Luigi’s Mansion 2 and 3. Both games look great as they are, but new lighting, higher resolutions, and speed improvements could bring them up to date for a new generation of gamers. For Nintendo, these updates would be low-risk, high-reward chances to give games that already have good names a new lease on life.
Recent events make it seem like Nintendo might be trying out cheaper upgrade costs in the future. The Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition shows that $5 might become a more typical price for simple performance boosts.
If those prices stay the same, it might be a good compromise for both consumers and businesses that want to make money from their current catalog.
If a player already has a physical copy, they can save money by buying used copies—some are said to be available for around $40—and then upgrading for $5 to get the Switch 2 Edition. This is a much cheaper option than buying the full $65 deal when it first came out.
People may not be as critical of Nintendo’s overall policy of changing prices because of this. Still, a lot of fans would rather have clear rules and a consistent framework than have choices made on a case-by-case basis.
As the Switch 2 generation goes on, Nintendo’s back stock is still one of its best features. It’s clear that people want better versions of Smash, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Paper Mario, and Luigi’s Mansion.
