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My Favorite Switch 2 Game Upgrade (So Far)
A tiny portable miracle takes a generational leap into the stars
The Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t just launch with its own library of new bespoke software, it also features several upgraded versions of classic games from the older console.
In somewhat-typical Nintendo fashion, the rollout of these updated older games has been rather awkward. Some upgrades were delivered as silent patches to the existing Switch 1 code that only “wake up” when running on a Switch 2, while others are brand new executables delivered as “Switch 2 Edition” software. Those latter upgrades are then further split into paid and free options, with their own special button on the eShop interface for those looking to get these boosts. Both Sony and Microsoft have much sleeker systems for handling multiple generations of console software, whereas Nintendo’s is functional if a little confusing.
Many of Nintendo’s highest-profile games got either a free patches or paid “Switch 2 Edition” versions, and some of them are amazing experiences. The new paid upgrade builds of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom bring these genre-defining games rushing into a more modern technological context, with much higher resolutions and fast frame rates that make them both feel remarkable all over again. The famously broken…
