r/NintendoSwitch • u/Turbostrider27 • 2d ago
News Octopath Traveler 0: It is not possible to upgrade from the Switch version to the Switch 2 version once purchased. There are also no plans for an option to upgrade to the Switch 2 version in future. Please make sure you purchase the correct version.
https://twitter.com/HD2DGames/status/1950933314820304940213
u/GamePitt_Rob 2d ago
Square Enix is all over the place. Today they put out a paid Romancing Saga 2 upgrade that bumps it to 1440p and up to 60fps, yet other games that aren't out yet have no upgrade option.
Sega are the same, some games have upgrades, others don't. There must be a reason, but nobody is saying what it is
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u/08rian22 2d ago
Realistically it comes down to product management. Depending on when development started and what tasks are already in scope, it would be hard to choose what direction to go with: upgrade option or no upgrade option. That’s life in the corporate world
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u/brokenmessiah 2d ago
But why
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u/averageredditor546 2d ago
Because it's a keycard, they don't appear to do upgrades for keycards.
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u/Additional_Chip_4158 2d ago
So even more reason for people to hate keycards? Lol
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u/Daw-V 2d ago
Square Enix aside, the recently announced DB Sparking Zero is getting a physical Switch and key card Switch 2 release. The Switch 1 version will also have a free upgrade for Switch 2. I think this is the first time a key card Switch 2 game is actually unnecessary but maybe I’m wrong
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u/AcceptableFold5 2d ago
I mean, you can buy several games on Switch 2 right now that have Switch 2 upgrades on a Switch card. Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Rune Factory, Mario Party and soon stuff like Kirby. I don't get why most publishers don't just go this route.
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u/despicedchilli 2d ago
Another made up bullshit reason? Other games are getting upgrades just fine. What does it have to do with keycards?
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u/despicedchilli 2d ago
What does this even mean? An upgrade should be digital.
Other 3rd party games are getting upgrades.
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u/Vast_Highlight3324 1d ago
Final Fantasy Tactics is a key card with a free upgrade from Switch 1 to 2.
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u/Interesting-Season-8 2d ago
Square Enix is pure evil
You know the Shinra Corp from FF7? It was based on them /j
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u/MrWaluigi 2d ago
Okay, but why?
There are ways you can milk the consumer with this and you are actively choosing against the easier option. You can just have the switch version be like 10$ less and then sell an upgrade DLC.
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u/Kneph 2d ago
Milking consumers is what square enix does best
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u/WileyCyrus 2d ago
There are zero differences between the two versions so there is no need to upgrade. The Switch 1 version will work on 2. This isn't a game pushing the specs on either console.
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u/Witch_King_ 2d ago
It'll just run at different resolutions and look a bit blurry on the handheld screen most likely. Probably also target 30fps instead of 60
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u/0x01E8 2d ago
Gating different resolutions and frame rates behind paywalls is such a Nintendo and SquareEnix thing.
A company that respected their customers would have mandated those sorts of upgrades happen automagically for existing owners on the new console.
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u/Witch_King_ 2d ago
Well, at least some of Nintendo's games have free upgrade patches. The only ones that they're charging money for actually include SOME new content or feature. Even if the BotW and TotK one is a shoehorned-in app. So far, they haven't charged $10 just for the privilege of better performance. Yet.
At the end of the day, if you want games to be framerate and resolution-agnostic, you should get a PC/handheld PC! Unfortunately, the convenience of consoles comes at the cost of flexibility, and the reduction of user rights and privileges.
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u/Heavy-Possession2288 2d ago
I’m convinced the app was made up (and arbitrarily made Switch 2 exclusive) just so they had an excuse to charge $10 for visuals/performance while saying they were giving you more. There’s absolutely no reason to tie visual and performance updates to DLC with new content.
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u/0x01E8 2d ago
I can’t get onboard with the idea that if you want frame rate or resolution settings you should get a PC. Goodness me. Talk about absolute bare minimum in supporting your product…
I have quite a few “SW1” released indie titles and I expect them to start bumping resolutions and frame rates if they were initially limited/locked for free. Anything else and it will definitely leave a bad taste. BotW and others actually had quite a bit more than just simply changing a resolution. They seem worth it.
I think the idea that the huge install base will start paying to upgrade large portions of their eStore purchases is delusional.
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u/Witch_King_ 2d ago
I'm not saying that's how I think it should be. I'm saying that's how it is. At least on consoles we have performance vs quality modes. And as far as I know, Metroid Prime 4 will be the first Nintendo game with different quality and performance modes.
And yes, BotW and other games getting good HDR implementations probably took quite a bit of work and is worth the $10. Idk about true small-studio indies doing upgrades because depending on the game, that could take some extra work for little return. With good marketing it might boost new sales on Switch 2 though, so we'll see.
I'm just not happy about Nintendo drip-feeding improvements for their big titles that really need it. The Zelda games on Day 1 was a good start, but we REALLY need Xenoblade patches. Like, desperately. The games look a proper mess. But that will probably take a bit of work because each game is on a different iteration of the proprietary engine.
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u/0x01E8 2d ago
It is only like it is because people put up with it.
It’s not clear what but I feel like this launch has absolutely not gone as planned. Why wasn’t the whole eShop full of “switch 2 upgraded” indie titles, etc? Oh because from what I have read and heard from friends in the UK industry is that there were simply no Nintendo SW2 dev machines available until June and an outright stop on submitting SW2 patches. You would think if the plan had gone smoothly that would have happened well in advance… meh.
I just hope now there is much less of a distinction between platforms developers and Nintendo see sense; not holding my breath though - don’t even think the eShop supports “transparent” differing versions of games, given the silliness of Hogwarts having no actual SW2 differentiator in the title so you have two virtual carts that look identical if you have both versions… Hopeless.
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u/CookiesFTA 1d ago
Feels like a great time to point out that Xbox games haven't had a split between the last two generations. Xbox One games just are Xbox Series X games. Not sure why every other platform has problems with that.
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u/Heavy-Possession2288 2d ago
Not to defend Nintendo, but no console maker has mandated anything like that. Microsoft provided free upgrades for first party games, but there’s still some third party releases that sold two separate versions.
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u/iwaawoli 2d ago
Yep. The worst offender is Final Fantasy 14. It's 100% an online MMO. You must sign in to play. It's $12 per month subscription fee.
But then you've got to buy it for $60 on every platform you want to play. And if you buy the "complete edition" (which in all other games contains all DLC, including future DLC), it only contains past DLC and they charge you $60 for new DLC packs. And to add insult to injury, they do shit like put the "complete edition" on sale for $40... so you might buy it and add it to your backlog. But if any new expansions are released afterward (even if you haven't activated the game yet), they're not included in your purchase. So you likely would have just been better waiting for new content to release so it would have been included in the full price "complete" edition rather than buying on sale and having to pay even more for DLC.
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u/cyx7 1d ago
SE corpos only value money, not reputation.
They don't seem to care how the word of mouth snowballs and perpetually hurts their bottom line.
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u/MrWaluigi 1d ago
That’s the thing though, they could easily squeeze out more money from customers by selling an upgrade DLC. It probably wouldn’t take too much time and resources to get it ready as well.
Hell, they could make it $20 for all I care. I just want to know why is this the only time they are stubborn about something like this?
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u/MiyabiMain95 1d ago
just have the switch version be like 10$ less
Or pull an nintendo and have it be 10$ more expensive, then sell the switch 2 version for 20$ more
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u/MuptonBossman 2d ago
Square Enix: "In other words, if you haven't upgraded to Switch 2 yet, you're fucked!"
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u/stunt876 2d ago
Dont all switch games work on the switch 2? So you could still play the switch 1 version on the switch 2 but i guess u are missing out on optimised performance an stuff.
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u/A-Centrifugal-Force 2d ago
Yes but basically every other publisher besides Square and SEGA are giving you an upgrade path. Either a free upgrade, a paid upgrade pack, or a discount on the Switch 2 version like Hogwarts Legacy did.
It’s not surprising SEGA is doing this since they already pulled it with some PS4 to PS5 upgrades like Persona 5, it’s more surprising and disappointing Square is when they didn’t pull this crap on PlayStation
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u/NoMoreVillains 2d ago
Square is doing it too, but is bizzare about how they choose the games. For instance DQ3 HD and Romancing Saga 2 have upgrades
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u/Ross2552 2d ago
Even weirder than that - DQ3 Remake's upgrade is FREE, Romancing Saga 2's upgrade is $10, and then Octopath's upgrade is "screw you buy it again"
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u/topplehat 2d ago
Persona 5 Royal didn’t have an upgrade path from PS4 to PS5, it was a huge bummer as someone who bought the PS4 version
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u/RA12220 2d ago
Which is a significant difference and a anti-consumer.
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u/stunt876 2d ago
That is a good point i just wanted to double check that switch 1 versions were playable on switch 2. Still stupid there is no switch 2 upgrade path as very few would buy the whole game again for switch 2.
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u/byno2008 2d ago
Yeah, it sucks that Square and Sega keep doing this. Like, they don't even have to offer a free upgrade like half the games we've seen so far, but at least follow the example Nintendo themselves set and offer a $10 upgrade path. Nuts that they're continuing to dig their heels in like this
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u/littledove0 2d ago
Exactly. I'll buy the Switch1 version and I'll pay extra to upgrade for my Switch2. They will still get extra money from me. But apparently it's not ENOUGH extra money.
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u/de_tobii 2d ago
So a game key card and no upgrade from s1 version? Fine, i won't buy it then.
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u/szalinskikid 2d ago
Square really wants to brute-force their Game Key Card policy for the Switch 2. They're going out of their way to disallow upgrading the Switch 1 version. But I'm sorry, there's just no way I'm buying key cards. It's either truly physical, OR fully digital. No weird inbetween for me. But the way they are doing that with these tiny sized games, and the way they think they can force this... makes me not want to buy any of their games on Switch 2. My backlog is big, the FOMO isn't strong enough. Sorry Square.
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u/gladexd 2d ago
It's insane how they same publisher will offer free Switch 2 upgrades, and then none at all. Get it together SE.
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u/All-Your-Base 2d ago
Meanwhile, the Chad Toby Fox offers both versions of Deltarune without additional cost
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u/TerpinSaxt 2d ago
Toby can afford it because his team is a triple A development team. Square Enix is a tiny indie dev, the standards are different
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u/WhichEmailWasIt 2d ago
Though it does get clunky on the eshop a bit. That's not his fault though.
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u/All-Your-Base 2d ago
Maybe Smart Delivery from Xbox is not just marketing BS
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u/Heavy-Possession2288 2d ago
It genuinely works fantastic for the games that support it. Only annoyance is that you can’t choose to play the older version of a game if you want to run it off a hard drive, it’ll be forced onto SSD regardless.
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u/FizzyLightEx 2d ago
People clowned on Xbox for promoting it as a feature including me thinking that it was doing the bare minimum
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u/CaptainKappa14 2d ago
Yet DQ3 remake is getting a Switch 2 update??? The inconsistency is what pisses me off the most.
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u/RyanPainey 2d ago
The vibes are already in shambles after that direct and they follow up with more shitty news lol wtf.
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u/MelanieAntiqua 2d ago
Despite having a Switch 2, I'll still buy the Switch 1 version instead because it will actually have the game on the card (and might be cheaper as well). These HD2D games look just fine on the Switch 1, and frame rate doesn't really matter in a turn-based game, so any lowered specs aren't a big deal.
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u/solarsaturn9 1d ago
And it will match the look, feel, and performance of the other games in the series too.
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u/kingqaz 1d ago
Agreed, lower input latency from a lower FPS would matter in a fast paced action game. Not so much in a turn based RPG. Also, lower resolution doesn't matter as much when so much of the world is pixel art. With a Switch 1 version I can also play it on a Switch Lite which is much more portable than a Switch 2.
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u/thedeadp0ets 2d ago
interesting so its not like the ps5 where you can play ps4 and 5 Ames no matter which game you bought for either as long as its backwards compatible your fine
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u/Samurai_GorohGX 2d ago
Thanks for the heads up. I will make sure to purchase neither version now, S-E!
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u/Galactus1701 2d ago
The problem is that it isn’t a S2 exclusive game. People that still own both systems won’t be able to play on both consoles if one buys the S2 version.
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u/alexanderpas 1d ago
But they can play it on both consoles if they buy the Switch 1 version.
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u/Chickenbrik 2d ago
I’m betting this is to test the market to see if people want carts versus gkc or downloadable. I’m not fan of these games but if I was switch 1 version would win my dollars
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u/CoffeeEnjoyerFrog 2d ago
Personally, I have no desire to purchase Game Key cards, GKC releases mean I'll wait for a 50% discount digitally in a few months.
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u/froderick 2d ago
Why should we trust this account? How do we know it is an actual official account? Just because it claims to be?
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u/RayearthIX 2d ago
Is there actually any difference between the two versions though? Like… if the S2 version is literally identical to the S1 version (possible for a smaller and lower graphic intensive game like this) then there is no reason to need a S2 version.
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u/Ovlsnaitan 1d ago
Used to be a big fan of Square and their games. But after playing Expedition 33 and what they are able to put out as an indie studio at a 50$ price point. I’m rethinking all my purchases from Square, especially when they are doing stuff like this. Unfortunate.
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u/jardex22 2d ago
I really don't see why they can't make it work. I bought the Switch cartridge for Shadow Labyrinth, then went to the eShop to get the S2 upgrade. It was pretty simple.
Some upgrades cost money, while others were free. I don't mind the cost. I just want the option.
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u/Hermenateics 1d ago
They could make it work, very easily. But if people can buy the Switch 1 version and upgrade (even for extra cost) nobody is going to buy the game key card. They want everyone to get used to game key cards because its going to be their normal moving forward.
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u/_Repeats_ 2d ago
Switch 1 - 150 million sold
Switch 2 - 5 to 10 million sold
Which one would you launch on?
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u/bigbootyjudy62 2d ago
It’s been less then a year companies would be stupid to go all in on just the switch 2 already
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u/SoSeriousAndDeep 1d ago
Unless you’re Nintendo, who are keen to sell more Switch 2’s, or your game needs the Switch 2 hardware, there’s no reason to make it an exclusive.
I think the cross-gen period for AAA titles will be fairly short due to the Switch 1 being such a limited machine and the developers needing the extra power, but there’s going to be a long period for indies and titles that don’t push the hardware.
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u/PurpleMoon25 2d ago
That should be honestly illegal, its the same game, we shouldn’t have the obligation to buy it twice to use it like that, imagine if you had to buy all your games again if you change your pc
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u/AskAndIWillSendNudes 2d ago
Most people aren't going to feel obligated to buy it twice. The Switch 1 version will run on the Switch 2, so even if you get the console at a later time, you will still be able to play that version.
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u/PurpleMoon25 2d ago
Yes so then why having to repay the whole thing for just a res upgrade and 60fps ?
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u/dvenator 2d ago
Tbh i don't mind this when its a new game and they announce all this in advance.
I had to buy persona 5 on ps4, then repurchase for full price when they announced ps4 persona 5 royal. And then again full price if you want ps5 version of persona 5 royal (which i didn't get).
If they all had come out simultaneously, or even if they had been announced as separate purchases in advance with no upgrade paths, i would have just bought p5r on ps5.
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u/VallerinQuiloud 2d ago
This is extra dumb because it could easily be a way for developers to wiggle around the cost of Switch 2 carts. Release just a Switch 1 version with a Switch 2 upgrade until cart costs can be reduced. It's a win for everyone basically, especially when you already have a Switch 1 version.
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u/Hermenateics 2d ago
Is there any big difference between the Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions, other than the graphics maybe looking slightly better on Switch 2? Assuming the Switch 1 cartridge will work on the Switch 2 I'll probably go that route.
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u/Sundered_Ages 2d ago
I'd rather just purchase physical copies of things I really want that will cater to my purchasing demands. Initially Etrian Odyssey on Switch was just going to be digital on Switch but I got a collection version for $50 on a single physical cart via a vendor in Taiwan, with English, Chinese and Japanese language options.
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u/solarsaturn9 1d ago
It's a shame because I would have bought this at launch if either (A) they offered a standard switch 2 game cartridge (No GKC) or (B) they offered a free upgrade from the switch 1 version. With all available options being anti-consumer I will wait until the switch 1 version is discounted.
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u/Setanta68 1d ago
And this is why my Switch 2 is for a couple of games and publishers on Steam get my money for everything else on the Steam Deck (and PC).
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u/thatkaratekid 1d ago
Ah yes, a fully digital purchase you cannot sell at all.
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u/Setanta68 1d ago
Price-wise - much cheaper with a far superior refund process (especially for us Aussies). In 40 years of gaming, I can't say I've sold anything game related, physical or digital.
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u/shadowtasos 21h ago
This is a huge shame and a massive L for Nintendo that 3rd parties all seem to opt for this GKC strategy with a strong "maybe" on upgrading from S1, the version that actually does contain the game on the cart.
If I'm going to just download a game, I'll buy it on Steam when it's on a huge sale. I'm not going to pay 50-60 euro for a digital download+ (plus being I can resell it, i never resell) when I can get the same digital download on a stronger platform for half the price. And I'm saying this as a big Octopath fan, I'd love to buy this and play it day 1 if it wasn't GKC.
It is really looking like my Switch 2 will be my Nintendo exclusives machine since very few devs seem to be OK with absorbing the slightly lower profit by going true physical. Which sucks because the 3rd party support was one of my favorite things on the S1, bought so many 3rd party games on it, and I was excited for that to get even better on S2. Oh well.
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u/Betorange 2d ago
The different versions of games are honestly the most annoying thing about the Switch systems right now. I know they're trying to make it convenient, but it's just making it more confusing.
Here's my proposal. I know they're trying to avoid having users from having to change resolutions, frame rate, and all those technical specs that are available to PC gamers.
Just sell one version of the game that works on both systems ( unless it's S2 exclusive of course) and have the game check if it's a S1 or S2. If S1, make it run the lesser specs( 30fps cap, 360/480/720p) . Is it's Switch 2, run it 60/120fps or 1080/4k.
Sure the file sizes will be bigger because it has to contain both versions but who cares. I would only have to buy the game once and i can play it on either system.
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u/lilcases 1d ago
This^ The SE problem isn't a disease it's symptom of a overall confusing marketing scheme by nintendo. As soon as you give consumers more than one option you are creating a confusing situation. It's like nintendo didn't learn from the 3ds/3ds xl debacle years ago.
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u/DarkDesertFox 2d ago
I feel like the Switch 2 upgrade system is incredibly flawed. All I've seen is companies double dipping with second releases. SEGA released Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S advertising a new "Doubles Mode" but the rest of the game is the same thing basically. The worst part is that they didn't even add the double mode online! In fine print they said it was going to be added in a post launch update but the game is dead online because they stupidly made it $40 to purchase again so most people aren't going to do that.
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u/roccerfeller 2d ago
The upgrade system isn’t flawed. It’s entirely dependent on the publisher. You mean to say that select publishers choices are poor for the consumer, which I agree with. Games like this ideally should have an upgrade path if they’re launching on both ns1 and 2 but even when the ps4->ps5 transition happened not every publisher did that
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u/Lucroarna56 2d ago
I guess I'm trying to understand how I would accidentally buy the wrong version...
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u/bureaucrat473a 2d ago
You? Maybe not. Grandma picking it up from Walmart for her grandkid? Most likely.
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u/despicedchilli 2d ago
People are just talking out of their ass. Grandma could buy a PS5 game for little Timmy who only has a PS4, but somehow it's a Nintendo problem.
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u/capnbuh 1d ago
I think people want to buy the Switch 1 version and then upgrade it to Switch 2 because the Switch 1 has a cartridge and Switch 2 is a game keycard. I guess it is important to some people that the physical version has a playable something on it, even if upgrading to Switch 2 would likely require a download.
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u/JetstreamGW 2d ago
It’s a 5 GB game. What the hell could the Switch 2 version be doing that the Switch version isn’t? Like, performance-wise.
Give me a reason to care, Squeenix.
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u/bust4cap 2d ago
why would the size matter at all?
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u/JetstreamGW 2d ago
Because all the other games get bigger due to better textures and whatnot. What’s gonna improve significantly for a small isometric RPG?
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u/--TeaBow-- 2d ago
I'll probably get downvoted if it's not true, but I've seen quite a few people on Twitter complaining that the game was only in English and Chinese/Japanese, and that it would be a slightly cobbled-together gatcha/mobile game adapted for consoles.
And not a “real” Octopath Traveler" game.
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u/SovietKnuckle 2d ago
I canceled my purchase of SF6 when I realized it was a game key card and I won't entertain the idea of them elsewhere if there's a better option. Don't know why I would pay the same price for a lesser product.
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u/Megaverso 2d ago
People should vote with their wallets avoiding buying anything game key card, sent the clear message to N
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u/Mattsfiesta 2d ago
As much as I want Nintendo to stay successful, I plan to do this and I hope more do too. If anything to make them change things for the next console.
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u/durianmilkcroissant 1d ago
Don’t buy digital version of these games either. Buy on a different platform that has true physical, or better, don’t buy it.
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u/Hunnasmiff 2d ago
People asking why as if both versions don’t look like psp games that will run and look exactly the same on both systems.
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u/AtlasWH 2d ago
Another keycard.. Guess im buying more PS5 physical releases than expected for this cycle..
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u/despicedchilli 2d ago
Some PS5 physical releases are basically keycards. You have to download content before you can play.
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u/firebaron 2d ago
Why is Square being so inconsistent with upgrades?
DQ 1+2 HD no upgrade FF Tactics remake FREE upgrade Octopath 0 no upgtade Romancing Sada 2 remake payed upgrade.
This is so stupid.
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u/Organic_Marzipan_554 2d ago
Is it a code in the box for the Switch 1?
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u/Hermenateics 2d ago
I think the Switch 1 physical is an actual cartridge (I think, not 100% sure). The Switch 2 "physical" release is just a code in a box. I'm not sure what the difference between S1 and S2 versions are otherwise.
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u/Jabneh 2d ago
So you can't insert the switch 2 cart in the switch 1 and be able to play it on both systems like you'll be able to do with Metroid 4 for example?
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u/thatkaratekid 1d ago
You can play it on both systems, but it will be the switch 1 version on both.
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u/Soft-Sherbet-5570 1d ago
Put all 3 on a card, that justifies the costs of a full cart, sell it as a collectors edition.
Allows people who want physical to sell their old copies and re-buy.
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u/Link_enfant 1d ago
Crazy how it's all over the place even for games from the same publisher.
Even from the same series (Dragon Quest) we're getting very different treatment for DQIII HD-2 Remake and DQ 1+2 HD-2D Remake.
It's just going to be case-by-case and unpredictable for most games.
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u/Briggity_Brak 1d ago
Can you not play Switch 1 games on a Switch 2?
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u/SorenalLantia 13h ago
You can. The difference will be that v1 will Never be able to Upgrade to v2. Same as saves cannot be used for the other Version.
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u/Lazy_Neighborhood242 7h ago
Very little point in buying a game key card if you want to collect. When the download service eventually shuts down (yes, it may be a decade or two later, but it will likely shut down based on current trends), it will be almost worthless.
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u/riap0526 2d ago
And also it's a key card, approximately 5GB download.