Nintendo fans were surprised to find that Switch 2 Edition Game Cartridges is also available on Switch 1
Blog Andrew Joseph 06 Jun , 2025 0
Nintendo fans have known for a while Switch 2 Backward compatible with Switch 1 games. But what happens when you do the reverse and stick the Switch 2 game into Switch 1?
Insert Switch 2's only game, e.g. Mario Karting World In Switch 1, Nintendo's last-generation console will simply display an error message saying the software was designed for the Switch 2.
But Switch 2 Edition 2 cartridges can also be used on Switch 1, for example The Legend of Zelda: Breathing in the Wild…it works.
What's going on here? Well, Nintendo itself doesn't go into details, but the Switch 2 Edition Games package does point out that the cartridges include both the original game and the Switch 2 upgrade.
“The Nintendo Switch 2 version includes Nintendo Switch games and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade package,” Switch 2 Edition package read. “Upgrade packages can also be used separately.”
In other words, when you put the Switch 2 Edition cartridge in Switch 1, the older console knows to ignore the Switch 2 bits and just play the original game.
Nintendo never seems to have said in simple English, this is how some Switch 2 Edition cartridges run, but it's a useful feature. For example, if you are the Switch 1 owner who plans to buy Switch 2 in the future, you can now buy the Switch 2 Edition game to play Cross-Gen when the time comes, without having to worry about upgrading the game to offline.
“Hmm. Make sure this does work on switch 1. (As an OG Switch game. Bruceky Today, in testing his ink for Zelda: Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Switch 1.
It's less than a million miles from the system where Xbox handles game ownership in its console family. Having a copy of the game unlocks access to different versions of the game, which the hardware will detect.
One difference, of course, is that Nintendo decided to charge extra fees for certain Switch 2 versions, such as Zelda: with Zelda: wild of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and (Deep Breathing) Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition 2 Edition + Jamboree TV.
Of course, to make everything more confusing, Nintendo also offers Other updates and upgrades to 1 game on Nintendo Switch 1 On Switch 2 for free – It released a long list of patch notes earlier this week on the titles Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Link's Echoes of Wisdom.
IGN has contacted Nintendo for more information.
Earlier today, IGN reported Damaged switch 2 consoles as retailer pierces the thin box of the gaming console. If you are buying a console (with or without a popular trip), this is worth noting. It also appeared the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – the $10 Switch 2 Mini-Game series for the console, which many fans think should be free – Requires you to have at least $95 of accessories to complete 100%.
Tom Phillips is the news editor for IGN. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on the Blues @tomphillipseg.bsky.social