Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 is a version of the game made for Nintendo's newer console, launching 27 October. Owners of a digital Nintendo Switch copy can move to the Standard version for free in most territories until the end of January 2027. This page reads Mojang's pre-order announcement of 7 October 2026.
What Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 is
Mojang's announcement calls it Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 and does not use the label "Switch 2 Edition". It sells in three digital forms, plus a physical copy at retail. Every form includes the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack with Vibrant Visuals. Mojang notes that Vibrant Visuals is unavailable in some play, including split-screen and certain Marketplace Worlds.
| Version | Add-ons included | Character Creator items | Minecoins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | None named | None named | None named |
| Deluxe Collection | Celebration Food, Rescue Dogs, Plenty O'Blocks | 3 exclusive items | 700 |
| Ultimate Collection | Celebration Food, Rescue Dogs, Plenty O'Blocks, Decocraft, Weapons + Tools | 5 exclusive items | 1000 |
The trade-off is currency. Mojang says the included Minecoins, and any bought on a Nintendo device, must be used in the Nintendo ecosystem.
How it relates to Bedrock Edition
The announcement never writes the word Bedrock. It does describe Marketplace Worlds, Minecoins, Character Creator items and add-ons. Mojang's own edition comparison ties the Marketplace, the Character Creator and add-ons to Bedrock Edition, and lists Nintendo Switch among Bedrock devices. Java Edition, by that same page, runs only on Windows, Mac and Linux. The reasonable reading is that this is the Bedrock side of the game, but Mojang's announcement does not say so outright. For the full split, see Minecraft Java vs Bedrock Edition.
Mojang's comparison also says Java and Bedrock players cannot play together because the editions use different servers. For which devices do mix, read Is Minecraft Cross Platform.
Who gets the free upgrade
The upgrade is for players who already own a digital version of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch. Until the end of January 2027 they can pre-order digital Standard for Nintendo Switch 2 for free in most territories. Japan and Taiwan are the exceptions, at 100 JPY and 30 NTD. Deluxe and Ultimate are offered to these owners at discounted fees, and Mojang does not state those amounts.
The offer is limited in time and runs only through the Nintendo eShop. The announcement says nothing about owners of a physical Switch copy, so no upgrade path for them is confirmed. General pricing questions are covered in Is Minecraft Free.
What it means for add-ons
Add-ons change how things look and behave in Bedrock Edition, and the Deluxe and Ultimate versions bundle several. What the sources do not say is whether community add-ons can be loaded on Switch 2 beyond those bundles. Mojang's announcement is silent on it, so we make no claim. How add-ons reach Switch, Xbox and PlayStation today is in How to Get Minecraft Add-ons on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation, and the concept is in What Minecraft Add-Ons Are on Bedrock Edition.
What it means for Java mods
Nothing changes. Mods in the sense we list them are for Java Edition, which Mojang says is only available on Windows, Mac and Linux. A Nintendo console is not on that list, so Java mods, loaders and Java modpacks do not apply. Start with What a Minecraft Mod Is and What It Needs if you play on PC.
What has not been announced
- The price of the Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate versions outside the upgrade offer.
- The size of the discounted fees for upgrading to Deluxe or Ultimate.
- Whether owners of a physical Switch copy can upgrade.
- Whether community add-ons can be installed on Switch 2.
- Any performance or resolution figures. We read Mojang's page and did not play or test the game.
