Nintendo’s Confusing Switch 2 Upgrade Patch vs DLC = Free or $20 Fee?
Raise your hand if you think Nintendo is kind of a weird company that doesn’t always make a whole lot of sense. 🙋♂️ And I think Nintendo’s Confusing Switch 2 Upgrade Strategy of Free (or at least included if you’re a Switch Online member) vs. $20 Upgrade doesn’t make a ton of sense.
If your hand is up, you are definitely not alone. I am right there with you. Today, we need to have a serious talk about the current state of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its backward compatibility strategy. Specifically, the wildly inconsistent approach to upgrading original Nintendo Switch games for the new hardware.
We are seeing a strange divide in how legacy titles are being treated. On one side, we have massive open-world masterpieces like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild receiving completely free performance patches. These updates unlock higher resolutions and framerates, making the games look stunning on the new hardware without costing us a dime.
But then, we have the other side of the coin.
💸 The $20 DLC Upgrade “Tax”
Nintendo has decided that other flagship titles, specifically Super Mario Bros. Wonder DLC and Kirby and the Forgotten Land DLC, require a $20 paid upgrade. Now, Nintendo’s argument is that these aren’t just resolution bumps; they are “Enhanced Editions” that come with new content, additional levels, and bonus features.
But does that justify the price tag?
In this video, I’m breaking down why this strategy is leaving so many of us confused and frustrated. It feels like a double standard. While it’s great that the paid upgrades include new playable content, it forces early adopters to re-invest in games they already own just to get the “best” version of them on their new console.
🛑 The NSO Expansion Pack Problem
Here is where I think Nintendo is really missing the mark. If they want to push the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, wouldn’t these “Director’s Cut” upgrades be the perfect value add?
If I am already paying a premium subscription fee every year, why am I also being asked to shell out $20 per game for updates to titles like Super Mario Wonder? It feels like nickel-and-diming the most loyal fanbase. If the strategy is to make the Expansion Pack a “must-have” service, gating these next-gen upgrades behind a separate paywall seems like a massive missed opportunity.
🔍 In This Video, We Discuss:
The Inconsistency: Why does Link get a free graphical boost as the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom received an “Upgrade Patch”, while Mario and Kirby are locked behind a paywall?
The Content Factor: Is the “new content” in the paid upgrades actually substantial enough to warrant the price, or is it just a few bonus stages tacked onto a graphics patch?
The Value Proposition: Comparisons to how other platforms handle cross-gen upgrades (Smart Delivery, $10 upgrade paths, etc.).
My Verdict: Why I haven’t bought a single one of these $20 upgrade packs yet, and why I’m hesitant to support this business model moving forward. I mean, are these Switch 2 Upgrades really worth it?
I want to love the Switch 2, and the hardware itself is incredible. But this fragmented ecosystem of “Free Patch” vs. “Paid DLC Upgrade” is confusing for the average consumer and frustrating for the hardcore fans.
🗣️ Join the Discussion!
This is the big question of the day, and I need to hear your thoughts in the comments section:
Have you purchased any of the $20 “Enhanced” upgrades for Switch 2? (Mario Wonder, Kirby, etc.)
Do you think the additional content justifies the price, or should these have been free performance patches?
Do you agree that these upgrades should be included in the NSO Expansion Pack?
Has Nintendo “lost their way” with this pricing strategy, or is this just standard business?
Let’s get a conversation going down below!
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