Nintendo Reveals Free Performance Upgrades for Switch 1 Games on Switch 2

Nintendo has unveiled an exciting lineup of Switch 1 games that will receive complimentary performance enhancements on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Titles such as Arms, Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom are set to benefit from these upgrades. To access these improvements, simply connect your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet and download a system update. This will unlock free updates that enhance graphics and introduce new features like GameShare, though the specifics vary by game.

It's important to distinguish these free upgrades from the premium Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games. Notably, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offer free upgrades exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. So, what enhancements can Switch 2 owners look forward to? For instance, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet will boast "improved image quality" for high-resolution TVs and a smoother framerate. Meanwhile, Super Mario Odyssey will gain HDR support and GameShare functionality, allowing two players to enjoy the game together online—one controlling Mario and the other guiding Cappy.

Interestingly, the list does not mention framerate fixes for the top-down Zelda games, which is a notable omission considering their known performance issues. For more insights into Nintendo's latest developments, don't miss our interview with Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser, where he discusses the newly opened Nintendo San Francisco store and other exciting Nintendo Switch updates.

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Here’s the detailed 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 online via GameChat.

ARMS

**Software update release date:** 05/06/2025
Visuals: optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
Framerate: optimized for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even 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 online via GameChat.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

**Software update release date:** 05/06/2025
Visuals: optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
HDR support
GameShare support: two people can play all courses. Share locally or online via GameChat.

Game Builder Garage

**Software update release date:** 05/06/2025
Visuals: optimized 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: optimized 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: optimized 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: optimized 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 controlling Mario and the other controlling Bowser Jr. Share locally or online via GameChat.

Super Mario Odyssey

**Software update release date:** 05/06/2025
Visuals: optimized 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 controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy. Share locally or online via GameChat.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

**Software update release date:** 05/06/2025
Visuals: optimized 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: optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
HDR support