Nintendo Fine Print Reveals 'Nintendo Switch 2 Edition' Games and Fans Are Trying to Work Out What That Means

Today's Nintendo Direct announcement of a new Virtual Game Cards feature for sharing games between systems is being met with surprise and interest from fans. But it's also raising some questions, most notably one about the Nintendo Switch 2, thanks to a fine print footnote on an official Nintendo webpage.

The question comes from this page, which explains how Virtual Game Cards work. Most of what's here is fairly straightforward (well, as straightforward as anything is). But there's a fascinating footnote at the bottom of the page, tied to the feature of moving games between Switch systems. It reads:

**Compatible systems must be linked to a Nintendo Account to use virtual game cards. Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games can only be loaded on a Nintendo Switch 2 system. To move virtual game cards between two systems, you must pair the systems via local wireless and an internet connection, but only when pairing the systems for the first time. Up to two systems total can be linked per Nintendo Account.

What's throwing people here is the phrasing "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games." The part about "exclusive games" is straightforward enough, as we already knew there would be games that are only playable on the Nintendo Switch 2, and not the current Switch. But we also know that the Nintendo Switch 2 is backwards compatible with Switch 1 (mostly). So what is a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game?

Some fans are suggesting this is a subtle confirmation that there will be some "enhanced editions" of existing Switch games that add new features or improved performance, only for Switch 2. If that's the case, it would make sense that purchasing them on Switch 2 would not allow them to be shared with a Switch 1, because they simply wouldn't function correctly and would effectively be a different edition of the version on Switch 1.

That's not the only theory though. Some others are speculating that this doesn't confirm anything, merely suggests an unfortunate situation where users won't be able to use Nintendo's shiny new Virtual Game Card feature to send some or all Nintendo Switch 2 games backward to Switch 1, even if they're the same game. It's also possible this doesn't suggest anything in particular, but merely opens the door in the future for third-parties to release Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of games if they feel like it.

We reached out to Nintendo to try to get a clarification, but were told by a spokesperson they would have an answer for us on April 2, conveniently the day of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Just hang in there a little bit longer, everyone.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.