Minecraft’s native Nintendo Switch 2 version comes out on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, for $29.99 (Deluxe Collection $39.99, Ultimate Collection $49.99). The Minecraft Switch 2 upgrade is free if you own the original Switch game digitally: you can claim the Switch 2 Standard Edition at no cost through the Nintendo eShop until January 31, 2027. Cartridge owners don’t get a free path, at least not yet.
Here’s what to do first, what you pay, what comes with you from Switch 1 (worlds, Marketplace, Realms, Minecoins) and what actually changes on the new console. Prices and listings were checked on the US eShop on October 25, 2026 at 18:50 UTC.
Table of Contents
Quick answer
- Release date: October 27, 2026 on the Nintendo eShop and at retail.
- Price: $29.99 Standard, $39.99 Deluxe Collection, $49.99 Ultimate Collection (US eShop).
- Free upgrade: only if you own Minecraft for Switch 1 as a digital copy. Claim it on the eShop by January 31, 2027. Japan, Taiwan and Thailand pay a token fee.
- Physical copy: the Switch 2 retail version is a Game-Key Card, and Switch 1 cartridges get no free upgrade.
- Carries over: your Switch 1 worlds, per Nintendo’s listing. Minecoins bought on Nintendo after October 27 stay on Nintendo systems.
- What’s new: Vibrant Visuals on by default, the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack in every edition, and longer render distance in the beta.
- Download size: about 1.2 GB (Nintendo’s estimate).
Minecraft on Switch 2 runs Vibrant Visuals by default, with directional sunlight and softer shadows. Image: Mojang Studios
When does Minecraft come out on Switch 2?
Mojang and Nintendo both give October 27, 2026. Nintendo announced the date in an August 5 news post, and pre-orders opened on October 7 with Mojang’s pre-order announcement. Neither company has given an exact unlock time, so expect it to appear on the eShop during October 27 in your region. If you pre-order, the game lands in your library as soon as it unlocks.
It’s one of the biggest Switch 2 releases of the week. Our new Switch 2 games this week roundup has everything else coming out October 26 to November 1, with prices and sizes.
Minecraft Switch 2 price: every edition
All three digital editions are on the US Nintendo eShop. Every one of them includes the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. The bigger editions add add-ons, Character Creator items and Minecoins, according to Mojang.
| Edition | US price | What’s included | Upgrade price for Switch 1 digital owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $29.99 | Game + Super Mario Mash-Up Pack | Free (until Jan 31, 2027) |
| Deluxe Collection | $39.99 | Standard + 3 add-ons (Celebration Food, Rescue Dogs, Plenty O’Blocks), 3 exclusive Character Creator items, 700 Minecoins | Discounted (amount not published) |
| Ultimate Collection | $49.99 | Standard + 5 add-ons (the three above plus Decocraft and Weapons + Tools), 5 exclusive Character Creator items, 1,000 Minecoins | Discounted (amount not published) |
Mojang hasn’t said how big the Deluxe and Ultimate discounts are. Your eShop page will show the price for your account once you’re signed in.
Who gets the free Minecraft Switch 2 upgrade?
You qualify if you bought Minecraft for Nintendo Switch as a digital download on the Nintendo Account you use on Switch 2. The eShop listing says it in one line: “Already own a digital version of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch? Get a digital Minecraft Standard Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 for free or pre-order the Deluxe Collection or Ultimate Collection at a discount by January 31, 2027.”
The fine print matters:
- It’s time-limited. Mojang calls it “a limited time offer”. After January 31, 2027, Switch 1 owners pay full price.
- eShop only. You can only claim it through the Nintendo eShop.
- Not quite free everywhere. Mojang’s footnote lists a small fee in Japan (100 JPY), Taiwan (30 NTD) and Thailand (25 THB).
- Other platforms don’t count. Owning Minecraft on PC, Xbox, PlayStation or mobile doesn’t unlock the free Switch 2 copy.
- It’s a separate game, not a patch. The Switch 2 version has its own eShop listing, and the upgrade gives you that new digital copy.
Other Switch 2 upgrades work differently. Some are paid packs, and some are free for every owner. For comparison, see our posts on the free Hitman: Absolution Switch 2 upgrade and Cult of the Lamb’s free Switch 2 upgrade.
How to upgrade Minecraft to Switch 2 (step by step)
- Use the right account. On your Switch 2, open the Nintendo eShop with the Nintendo Account that bought Minecraft for Switch 1.
- Find the Switch 2 version. Search for Minecraft and pick the listing marked Nintendo Switch 2 (Standard Edition). You can also do this on nintendo.com while signed in.
- Check the price before you confirm. Standard should show as free for eligible accounts. Deluxe and Ultimate show a discounted price. If you see $29.99, you’re on the wrong account or the wrong edition, or your copy is a cartridge.
- Claim it by January 31, 2027. Before launch it shows as a pre-order. From October 27 it downloads like any other game, about 1.2 GB.
- Sign in to your Microsoft account in the game. You need it for cross-play, Realms and your Marketplace items (see below).
Physical vs digital: what cartridge owners should know
There are two separate questions here.
If you own the Switch 1 cartridge: no free or discounted upgrade has been announced. Mojang’s offer only covers digital Switch 1 copies, and Nintendo Life says it’s waiting for news on a physical upgrade path. The cartridge should still play on Switch 2 as the original Switch 1 version. You just won’t get the Switch 2 improvements.
If you want to buy Switch 2 Minecraft physically: it’s in stores, but Nintendo Life reports it’s a Game-Key Card. The box holds a key that downloads the game, not the full game on the card, so you need an internet connection to install it. Mojang lists the Deluxe and Ultimate Collections as digital editions on the eShop.
| You own | Switch 2 version cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Switch 1, digital | Free (Standard) until Jan 31, 2027 | Deluxe and Ultimate at a discount |
| Switch 1, cartridge | $29.99 | No upgrade path announced; the cartridge plays the Switch 1 version |
| Minecraft on another platform | $29.99 | Your Microsoft account items still link (see below) |
| Nothing yet | $29.99 / $39.99 / $49.99 | Physical Standard copy is a Game-Key Card |
Underwater fog and light shafts are part of Vibrant Visuals, which turns off in split-screen. Image: Mojang Studios
What carries over: worlds, Marketplace, Realms and Minecoins
Worlds
Nintendo’s listing says “Nintendo Switch worlds can be carried over, so you can pick up right where you left off.” Mojang hasn’t explained the steps in detail yet. If a world doesn’t show up on launch day, Realms is the usual fallback for moving a Bedrock world between devices: upload it to a Realm on Switch 1, then download it on Switch 2.
Marketplace items
Switch Minecraft is the Bedrock version, so Marketplace purchases are linked to your Microsoft account. Sign in with the same Microsoft account on Switch 2 to see them. Some Marketplace worlds don’t support Vibrant Visuals, so they still look like the old game.
Realms
Realms are Mojang’s private servers for up to 10 friends with Realms Plus, according to the eShop listing. They live on Mojang’s servers, not on your console, so there’s nothing to transfer: sign in and join. Online play on Switch 2 still needs Nintendo Switch Online, and cross-play needs a Microsoft account.
Minecoins: the big change on October 27
This catches a lot of players out. Mojang’s September 1 Minecoins notice says that starting October 27, 2026:
- Minecoins bought in Minecraft on a Switch or Switch 2 can only be used on Nintendo systems.
- Minecoins bought on other devices can’t be spent on Marketplace items on Nintendo devices.
- Coins you own before October 27 move to a Legacy Wallet. They keep working across platforms, never expire, and get spent first.
- Newer Minecoin and retail cards may not support Nintendo devices, so check the platforms on the pack before you buy.
This also applies to the 700 or 1,000 Minecoins in the Deluxe and Ultimate Collections. Mojang says they “must be used in the Nintendo ecosystem.”
What’s new on Switch 2: Vibrant Visuals and performance
Mojang’s June 9 announcement says the Switch 2 version is “optimized to take advantage of the console’s more powerful hardware.” Here’s what that means in practice.
- Vibrant Visuals, on by default. This is the lighting update that came to other platforms in June 2025 but skipped Switch 1. You get directional lighting, volumetric fog, moving shadows and reflective water.
- Not in split-screen. Vibrant Visuals turns off in split-screen and in some Marketplace worlds and content, according to Mojang and Nintendo. Couch co-op looks closer to the classic style.
- Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, updated. Every edition includes the Nintendo-only Mario world (Peach’s Castle, Delfino Plaza), with 40 skins and 15 music tracks, now with Vibrant Visuals.
- Longer render distance (beta reports). Nintendo Everything reported in August that the closed beta allowed up to 16 chunks with Vibrant Visuals and 28 chunks without, compared with 12 on Switch 1.
- 60 fps target (beta reports). According to the same beta reports, the game aimed for 60 fps and held it well without Vibrant Visuals, but dipped with them on. Mojang hasn’t published final resolution or frame-rate figures, so launch performance could be different.
- Players: the eShop lists 1-4 players on one system and up to 8 in local wireless or online play. It supports TV, tabletop and handheld modes, plus the touch screen.
Mojang hasn’t announced Joy-Con 2 mouse controls for Minecraft. Don’t count on them until patch notes or Mojang confirm it.
Every Switch 2 edition includes the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, updated for Vibrant Visuals. Image: Mojang Studios
Should you upgrade?
If you own Minecraft digitally on Switch 1, yes. The Standard Edition costs nothing, and the deadline is the only catch, so claim it before January 31, 2027. You keep your worlds and get better visuals.
If you have a cartridge, $29.99 buys you Vibrant Visuals, the longer render distance and the refreshed Mario pack. If you mostly play split-screen with family, remember that Vibrant Visuals turns off in split-screen. Then the main gain is smoother performance, so waiting to see whether a physical upgrade path appears is reasonable.
Looking for more blocky adventures? Our Minecraft Dungeons 2 best builds guide covers the spin-off, and the best cozy co-op games list has more couch-friendly picks.
FAQ
Is the Minecraft Switch 2 upgrade free?
Yes, if you own Minecraft for Switch 1 digitally and claim the Switch 2 Standard Edition on the eShop by January 31, 2027. Japan, Taiwan and Thailand pay a small fee. Cartridge owners pay the full $29.99.
What time does Minecraft release on Switch 2?
The release date is October 27, 2026. Mojang and Nintendo haven’t announced an exact unlock time. Pre-orders become playable when the eShop unlocks them in your region that day.
Is there a Minecraft Switch 2 upgrade pack?
No separate pack. The Switch 2 version is its own eShop listing. Eligible Switch 1 digital owners get the Standard Edition free, or Deluxe and Ultimate at a discount, rather than buying an add-on pack.
Do my Minecraft worlds transfer to Switch 2?
Yes. Nintendo’s listing says Switch worlds carry over. Marketplace items and Realms are tied to your Microsoft account, so sign in with the same one.
Can I use my old Minecoins on Switch 2?
Yes, if you owned them before October 27. They move to a Legacy Wallet and keep working. Minecoins you buy on other devices after that date can’t be spent on Nintendo systems.
Sources: Mojang (pre-order and upgrade path, Oct 7), Mojang (Minecoin changes, Sep 1), Mojang (Switch 2 announcement, Jun 9), Nintendo eShop (US), Nintendo (Aug 5), Nintendo Life, Nintendo Everything. Checked October 25, 2026 at 18:50 UTC.
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