Switch 1 Games to Receive Free Upgrades on Switch 2, Nintendo Announces

Nintendo has exciting news for Switch 2 owners, announcing a list of beloved Switch 1 games that will receive free performance upgrades. Titles such as Arms, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom are set to benefit from these enhancements. According to Nintendo's official statement:

By connecting your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet and performing a system update, you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for features such as GameShare. The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game.

It's important to clarify that these upgrades are complimentary and distinct from the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, which are premium upgrades. Notably, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offer free upgrades to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.

Switch 2 owners can look forward to specific improvements. For instance, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will feature "improved image quality" for high-resolution TVs and an "improved" framerate for "smoother movement." Super Mario Odyssey will introduce HDR support and GameShare functionality, allowing two players to collaborate online, with one controlling Mario and the other managing Cappy.

Curiously, Nintendo's list omits framerate fixes for the top-down Zelda titles, a disappointing oversight given their known performance issues.

For more insights into Nintendo's latest ventures, including the newly opened Nintendo San Francisco store, check out our interview with Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser.

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Here’s the list of free updates for selected Nintendo Switch games:

51 Worldwide Games

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• GameShare support: up to four people can play 34 games. Share locally or share online via GameChat.

ARMS

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Framerate: optimised for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even when playing with three or more players).
• HDR support

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• GameShare support: up to four people can play in Party Mode. Share locally or share online via GameChat.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR support
• GameShare support: two people can play all of the courses. Share locally or share online via GameChat.

Game Builder Garage

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Supports Joy-Con 2 mouse controls.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.

Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Framerate: improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Framerate: improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2 (including Bowser's Fury).
• HDR support
• GameShare compatibility: up to four people can play Super Mario 3D World. In Bowser's Fury, two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Bowser Jr. Share locally or share online via GameChat.

Super Mario Odyssey

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR support
• GameShare support: two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy. Share locally or share online via GameChat.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR support

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Software update release date: 05/06/2025

• Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR support