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Minecraft for Switch 2 comes out Oct. 27, and Switch owners can upgrade for free
Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 comes out on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Nintendo's US store lists three digital editions, Standard at $29.99, Deluxe Collection at $39.99 and Ultimate Collection at $49.99, and a physical version is sold at retail. If you already own Minecraft digitally on the original Switch, you can get the Switch 2 Standard Edition for free until the end of January 2027 through the Nintendo eShop. Every edition includes the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, and the Switch 2 version adds Vibrant Visuals, Minecraft's new graphics upgrade.
- Switch 2
Minecraft gets its own Switch 2 version next week. Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 launches on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, with better graphics than the original Switch version, a Super Mario world in every edition and a free upgrade for most people who already own the game digitally.
Minecraft for Switch 2 release date
Mojang announced on Oct. 7 that pre-orders were open and that the game launches on Oct. 27. Nintendo’s US store lists the same date for all three digital editions. There’s also a physical Switch 2 version, which you can pre-order at retail.
It’s one of the busiest weeks of the year on Switch 2. Nintendo Switch Sports Resort comes out on Oct. 22 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Oct. 23, and our list of upcoming Switch 2 games has everything after that.
Price: $29.99, $39.99 or $49.99
On Nintendo’s US store, the digital Standard Edition costs $29.99. Every edition includes the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, a Mario-themed world with 15 music tracks and 40 skins, playable with Vibrant Visuals.
The Deluxe Collection at $39.99 adds three add-ons, Celebration Food, Rescue Dogs and Plenty O’Blocks, plus three exclusive Character Creator items and 700 Minecoins. The Ultimate Collection at $49.99 adds Decocraft and Weapons + Tools on top of those three, plus five exclusive Character Creator items and 1,000 Minecoins. Minecoins you get or buy on a Nintendo console can only be spent there.
The free upgrade from the Switch version
If you own a digital copy of Minecraft for the original Switch, you can get the digital Switch 2 Standard Edition for free until the end of January 2027. The offer is only on the Nintendo eShop, and it’s free everywhere except Japan and Taiwan, where it costs 100 yen and 30 New Taiwan dollars. You can also move up to the Deluxe or Ultimate Collection for a discounted fee instead.
Your worlds come with you: Nintendo’s store page says worlds from the Switch version carry over, so you can continue where you left off. Mojang and Nintendo only mention digital owners for the free upgrade, and neither has announced an offer for the Switch cartridge.
What’s new on Switch 2
The biggest change is Vibrant Visuals, which Mojang calls Minecraft’s biggest official visual upgrade. It adds a new graphics pipeline with more vivid sunrises, reflective water and shaded forests. It doesn’t work in split-screen or with some Marketplace worlds and content.
You can play with up to four players on one Switch 2 in split-screen, or two to eight over local wireless and online. Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership, cross-platform play requires a Microsoft account, and Realms Plus lets you run a private server for up to 10 friends. The game supports TV, tabletop and handheld modes and the touch screen, and the ESRB rates it E10+. Nintendo estimates the download at about 1.3GB.
This page is updated as soon as Mojang or Nintendo announces the launch time on Oct. 27 or changes the upgrade offer.
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FAQ
When does Minecraft come out on Switch 2?
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Pre-orders opened on Oct. 7 on the Nintendo eShop, and the physical Switch 2 version is available to pre-order at retail.
How much is Minecraft on Switch 2?
On Nintendo’s US store, the digital Standard Edition costs $29.99, the Deluxe Collection $39.99 and the Ultimate Collection $49.99.
Is the Minecraft Switch 2 upgrade free?
Yes, for most players. If you own a digital copy of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch, you can get the digital Switch 2 Standard Edition for free until the end of January 2027, through the Nintendo eShop only. The only exceptions are Japan, where it costs 100 yen, and Taiwan, where it costs 30 New Taiwan dollars. Upgrades to the Deluxe or Ultimate Collection cost a discounted fee.
Do my Minecraft worlds carry over to Switch 2?
Yes. Nintendo’s store page says worlds from the Nintendo Switch version can be carried over, so you can pick up where you left off.
What's in the Minecraft Deluxe and Ultimate Collections?
The Deluxe Collection adds the Celebration Food, Rescue Dogs and Plenty O’Blocks add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items and 700 Minecoins. The Ultimate Collection adds those three plus Decocraft and Weapons + Tools, five exclusive Character Creator items and 1,000 Minecoins.
Does Minecraft on Switch 2 have Vibrant Visuals?
Yes. The Switch 2 version supports Vibrant Visuals, with improved lighting, shadows and water reflections. It isn’t available in split-screen or with some Marketplace worlds and content.
How many players can play Minecraft on Switch 2?
Up to four players on one Switch 2 in split-screen, and two to eight players over local wireless or online. Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and cross-platform play requires a Microsoft account.
Pop quiz
2 questions from this story.
How much is the Standard Edition of Minecraft for Switch 2?
The digital Standard Edition costs $29.99. The Deluxe Collection is $39.99 and the Ultimate Collection is $49.99.
Until when is the free upgrade from the Switch version available?
Digital owners of the Switch version can get the Switch 2 Standard Edition for free until the end of January 2027.
Your call
Which version of Minecraft for Switch 2 will you get?
