Minecraft is now available as a native Nintendo Switch 2 game, with a launch date of October 27, 2026. Nintendo lists the Standard Edition at $29.99 USD, and people who own the digital Nintendo Switch version can claim the Switch 2 Standard Edition for free through the Nintendo eShop for a limited time.
Prices and editions
Nintendo’s US news page gives three regular prices in USD:
- Standard Edition: $29.99
- Deluxe Collection: $39.99
- Ultimate Collection: $49.99
All three include the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack with Vibrant Visuals. The Deluxe Collection adds three add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items and 700 Minecoins. The Ultimate Collection adds five add-ons, five exclusive Character Creator items and 1,000 Minecoins. A physical Switch 2 version is also on pre-order at retail, and Nintendo Life reports it is a Game-Key Card release.
Nintendo and Minecraft.net publish no Canadian dollar price. Canadian retailer Video Games Plus lists the Game-Key Card version at $39.99 CAD as a pre-order, and notes that release dates are subject to change.
Why it is getting attention
The free upgrade is the hook. Minecraft.net says digital Switch owners can move to the digital Switch 2 Standard Edition at no cost in most territories, through the eShop only, until the end of January 2027. Nintendo Everything puts the claim deadline at January 31, 2027. Nintendo Switch 2 digital owners can also step up to the Deluxe or Ultimate Collection at discounted fees, and Nintendo Everything reported those two bundles showing 75% off and 60% off.
A few territories charge a small fee for the free upgrade, including Japan (100 JPY) and Taiwan (30 NTD), according to Nintendo and Minecraft.net.
Who it suits, and who should skip
It suits anyone who bought Minecraft digitally on the original Switch and now owns a Switch 2: the upgrade costs nothing, so the main job is remembering to claim it before the offer ends. It also suits new players who want the Mario skins and world content in the box.
Skip it, or wait, if you own only a physical Switch copy. Nintendo Life says no upgrade path for physical Switch owners has been announced. Players without a Switch 2 have no reason to buy, since this edition is for that console only.
Nintendo says Vibrant Visuals, the lighting and shadow upgrade, is on by default but is not available in split-screen play or in some Marketplace content. Minecoins that come with the editions must be spent inside the Nintendo ecosystem.
The obvious alternative
The obvious alternative is to keep playing the Switch version you already own. Nothing in the sources forces a move, and the free upgrade stays open until the end of January 2027, so there is no need to rush on launch day.
What it means for Canadian buyers
Canadian pricing from Nintendo has not been announced. The $39.99 CAD figure comes from one retailer’s pre-order listing, so check the eShop listing for your region before you buy, and expect prices to change.
