Good news Minecrafters on Switch! You can get a free upgrade to the Switch 2 edition of the game - but only if you own the digital edition. Physical cart players are out of luck, and that sucks if I’m being honest.
If you are an owner of the digital edition of Minecraft on Switch then you’ve got until the end of January 2027 to activate the update on the eShop to get it free. The Switch 2 edition of Minecraft supports Vibrant Visuals, an update that came to other platforms a while back. This enhances the world lighting and shadows, giving the game a more modern, refreshed appearance.
You can also bring over the data from your Switch, so you can carry on where you left off. All with no added cost… unless you happen to own the game on a cartridge like I expect many kids do. Kids like getting physical things, especially as presents.
I realise the Switch isn’t a console just for children, but I can’t be the only person who bought Minecraft for my kids on a cartridge now having to lay out the cash again to get the upgraded Switch 2 edition. Just because I bought the game a different, yet 100% legitimate, way.
Other Switch games, including plenty from Nintendo, have offered free upgrades to Switch 2 editions with improved visuals. At the end of September CD Projekt Red offered a free upgrade to The Witcher 3 Remastered to all owners of The Witcher 3, including Switch physical carts. I’m not entirely against having to pay for an upgrade if it offers a big uplift, but anything other than free for Minecraft feels like a slap in the face given some of the audience is getting that.
Currently Nintendo and Microsoft haven’t announced anything for Minecraft Switch physical cartridge owners, but an upgrade path seems unlikely given nothing was said in its announcement yesterday. Please think of the kids (and my bank balance!).
