Minecraft arrives on Switch 2 on Tuesday – digital owners upgrade for free
From 27 October there is a dedicated Switch 2 version with Vibrant Visuals. Digital owners of the Switch version get it free until the end of January.
Symbolic image · Photo: Crisco 1492 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
On Tuesday, 27 October, Minecraft launches in a dedicated version for Nintendo Switch 2. In the US the Standard Edition costs $29.99 according to Forbes, with the Deluxe and Ultimate bundles at $39.99 and $49.99. Anyone who bought Minecraft digitally for the original Switch can download the Switch 2 Standard Edition free of charge from the Nintendo eShop until 31 January 2027 – in most regions, according to Nintendo; Forbes says a small fee applies in Japan and Taiwan.
Owners of the cartridge version miss out: the free offer does not cover physical copies. Existing worlds from the Switch version can be carried over. The main new feature is the Vibrant Visuals graphics mode with richer lighting, reflective water and deeper shadows. It is on by default but does not work in split-screen or in some Marketplace worlds.
Up to four people can play on one console, or two to eight players locally and online. Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and cross-platform play a Microsoft account.