Nintendo Reveals Free Switch 2 Upgrades for Select Switch 1 Games

Nintendo has unveiled a comprehensive list of Switch 1 titles that will receive complimentary performance enhancements on the upcoming Switch 2, detailing the specific upgrades players can anticipate.

Franchise favorites including ARMS, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will all benefit from these technical improvements on the new hardware.

From Nintendo's official statement:

Connecting your Nintendo Switch 2 online and performing a system update will enable free downloads for select games, potentially enhancing graphics or adding features like GameShare. Update contents will vary by title.

Important clarification: These are free enhancements, distinct from premium "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" upgrades (though Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offer free upgrades for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers).

Specific improvements vary by title: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet will feature enhanced image quality for high-resolution displays and refined framerates for smoother gameplay. Super Mario Odyssey gains HDR support and GameShare functionality for cooperative online play between Mario and Cappy. Full details follow below.

Notably absent are framerate improvements for the top-down Zelda titles, a curious exclusion given their known performance issues.

For additional Nintendo insights, explore our exclusive interview with Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser regarding the newly launched Nintendo San Francisco store and Switch developments.

Nintendo San Francisco Store Gallery

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Comprehensive List of Free Switch Game Upgrades

51 Worldwide Games

Update Release: 05/06/2025

GameShare enables 4-player local/online multiplayer across 34 titles via GameChat.

ARMS

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Enhanced visuals for Switch 2 displays and 4K TVs
• Optimized framerate for smoother multiplayer performance
• HDR support

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain

Update Release: 05/06/2025

4-player Party Mode support via local/online GameShare with GameChat.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Visual enhancements for high-resolution displays
• HDR implementation
• 2-player cooperative GameShare for all courses

Game Builder Garage

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Display optimizations for Switch 2
• Joy-Con 2 mouse control compatibility

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Update Release: 05/06/2025

Image quality improvements for high-resolution screens.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Enhanced visual fidelity for 4K displays
• Improved framerate stability

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Graphical upgrades for high-resolution output
• Smoothed framerates (including Bowser's Fury)
• HDR implementation
• 4-player GameShare for 3D World/2-player for Bowser Jr. co-op

Super Mario Odyssey

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Enhanced display rendering
• HDR support
• 2-player Mario/Cappy cooperative GameShare

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Visual optimizations for high-resolution
• HDR implementation

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Update Release: 05/06/2025

• Enhanced image quality
• HDR support