How big third-party publishers are messing up Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade packs
Posted on September 5, 2026 by Ethan in Features, Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 has its fair share of problems – game-key cards and a somewhat lacking LCD screen are probably what most people would say if they were asked what the console’s biggest issue is. But in my opinion, the biggest issue right now has nothing to do with Nintendo at all – and everything to do with a specific category of third-party developers.
Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and SEGA have all recently announced or released Nintendo Switch 2 games that were also on Switch 1, and they have benefits like improved performance and resolution as a result. But some of these titles have been released in the most anti-consumer way possible: no upgrade path, no save data compatibility, and re-released for at full price. Understandably, players aren’t too pleased about this practice, so today we’re going in-depth on which games have been released this way and why it isn’t a good idea.
SEGA’s most egregious Nintendo Switch 2 games with no upgrade paths are Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition and Sonic x Shadow Generations. Indeed, if you already own these games on the original Nintendo Switch, there’s no option to pay for an upgrade pack – you have to purchase them a second time at full price. For whatever reason, you can transfer your save data from the Nintendo Switch 1 versions of these games to the Switch 2 versions, which is great and all, but if that functionality was allowed, why not make an upgrade pack while you’re at it? We’d estimate that only the most hardcore Sonic fans are going to repurchase these titles for full price, and even then I’m sure they aren’t too pleased about having to buy them again just for simple performance upgrades.
SEGA got this right with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, which has a typical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and a paid upgrade pack. This proves that SEGA is in fact capable of traditional upgrades, but chooses not to for mainline Sonic games wholly out of greed. Definitely not a good look.
A particularly sad case is Dragon Quest 11 S, which is launching on Nintendo Switch 2 with no upgrade path and no save data compatibility between versions. This is nothing short of baffling – that you can’t transfer a save file of a 40+ hour JRPG alone is frustrating. The game’s full price has at least been reduced to $40 on Nintendo Switch 2 instead of a full-priced $60 or $70, but it’s still another $40 you shouldn’t have to pay.
I was personally very interested in a Dragon Quest 11 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, but at that price I’m ultimately going to pass. And I’m sure the same is true for many of you – if this were a $10 or even a $20 upgrade with save file compatibility between versions, it would’ve been a home run. Plus, if this game got a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, we’d officially have what is probably the longest game title on the system: Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. That would have been fun and consumer-friendly.
Recently announced were Nintendo Switch 2 releases of Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler 2, which do have improved performance, but no upgrade path and no save data transfer from the Switch 1 versions. This is another bizarre case of an RPG not letting you transfer your saves that you’ve no doubt put many hours into, and another case of a very clearly anti-consumer practice.
It’s also important to note that all of the titles mentioned here today, in addition to having no upgrade path from Nintendo Switch to Switch 2, are game-key cards. Normally, this is somewhat excusable – the price of game cards has shot way up in recent times, so it unfortunately makes some sort of sense that third-party developers don’t want to pay $20 or so per manufactured card. But combine that with no upgrade path and no save data transfer for many of these titles, and you wind up with something that just feels blatantly anti-consumer. As someone who has absolutely no influence on game developers or gaming industry practices whatsoever, I really hope that actual upgrade paths for these titles somehow become available down the line. Though that’s very unlikely, at this point – you can’t just refund everyone who bought or pre-ordered the Nintendo Switch 2 releases already.
In any case, certain third-party developers are losing money by refusing to embrace upgrade packs. A good portion of players are going to rule out these Nintendo Switch 2 versions solely because of the fact that they have to repurchase these titles again, whereas if it was a simple upgrade many would have purchased that without a second thought. Not to mention, if these releases were released as physical cards, some collectors actually would excuse the lack of upgrade path as they’d be willing to double dip for a physical edition. But that’s unfortunately not the case here.
It’s important to note, though, that not every third-party developer uses this anti-consumer practice. Many indie developers did make Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of their games, including free upgrades for Hollow Knight and its sequel, for instance. Nintendo has also not currently re-released any Switch 1 games for Switch 2 without upgrade paths.
Are you double-dipping on any of these games despite the lack of upgrade path, or has that caused you to pass them up completely? Let us know in the comments down below.
