To conclude with two-week questions, confusion and occasional answers about Nintendo Switch 2 pricing, Pre-Orders, DLC, Switch 2 Edition upgrades, controllers and more, there’s another odd scenario to add to the pile. According to the Marvelous FAQ of the upcoming game Rune Factory: Guardians of Azure, at least the physical cartridges on the Nintendo Switch 2 are compatible with the Nintendo Switch 1.
This comes from this amazing FAQ. This includes:
What is the physical “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition”?
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a red 64GB game card that includes Nintendo Switch games and upgrade packs.
There is no need to download the full game. Simply insert the card into either the Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch 2 Console and the correct version will automatically start.
Like most recent titles, there may be small updates and patches available at launch to provide minor fixes and improvements, but don’t worry. The complete game is on the game card and is ready to play from day one.
This suggests that you can buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Guardians of Azure, slot it into your Nintendo Switch 1 and choose the Nintendo Switch 1 Edition of The Game. If this is certainly the case, this is the first time I’ve heard the ability to play a specific Switch 2 cartridge on Switch 1.
We’ve known for a while that most Switch 1 games are compatible with Switch 2. You also know if you can’t play Switch 1 on Nintendo’s Switch 2 (such as Mario Kart World, Mario Kart World) or Switch 1 game in Nintendo’s Switch 2 edition (Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild Switch 2 edition, with all upgrades). I’m getting a Switch 1 version of the same game. So far, it’s in the air. Some players found images on the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. This suggests that a small “notch” in the plastic of a Switch 2 cartridge does not, but it is still unclear whether that notch is preventive.
Also, it is unclear how accurate this will apply. You will see that first-party and some third-party physical Nintendo Switch 2 edition games include both cartridge base games and Switch 2 edition upgrades, but other third-party parties can choose to release the Switch 2 edition game as download code for the physical package. Additionally, some boxed Nintendo Switch 2 games actually don’t have the game in the cartridge, but instead includes a game keycard that allows you to download the game after insertion.
Essentially, when you buy a Nintendo Switch 2 Box game at a retailer, you may get one of the following:
- Physical Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive game cartridge that works only on Switch 2
- There is a Nintendo Switch 2 edition game with a Nintendo Switch 1 version in the cartridge, and a Switch 2 upgrade that may or may not be playable on both Switch 2 and Switch 1 base versions.
- Game keycards that do not have a game but allow you to download the game in question (also, it may be possible to use or not available on Switch 1)
- A physical box with the Switch 2 download key may or may not work on Switch 1.
If this is all your head spins, you are not alone. It was a confusing ride to try and organize exactly what you’re buying when buying a boxed Nintendo Switch 2 game. Nintendo is reluctant to step in and make things clear all the way. We commented on Nintendo’s great ‘FAQ and asked if it was particularly true that Switch 2 cartridges are playable on Switch 1. I’ll update this story if more information emerges.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter at Passthecontroller. You can find her posts at Bluesky @Duckvalentine.bsky.social. Do you have any tips for the story? Send to [email protected].
