Capcom’s remakes of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 are now on Nintendo Switch 2 as digital downloads, and players who prefer a boxed copy now have a date: the physical editions arrive on January 29, 2027. The digital versions went live on the Nintendo eShop on October 16, 2026, after the ports were revealed during a Nintendo Direct in September.

What you get in each game

The three releases are not identical packages. Resident Evil 2 arrives as the Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3 comes as the standard game, and Resident Evil 4 is the Gold Edition.

According to Nintendo’s eShop listing, Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition includes:

  • the main game, set six years after the Raccoon City incident, with Leon S. Kennedy sent to rescue the president’s daughter
  • the Separate Ways scenario and The Mercenaries extra mode
  • extra costumes, deluxe weapons such as the Sentinel Nine and Skull Shaker, and an original soundtrack swap
  • an expanded treasure map, extra attaché cases and charms

Nintendo Wire reported that the previously released downloadable content for Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 is part of these editions. The Resident Evil 4 download is listed at 26.9 GB on Nintendo’s European store, and the game is rated PEGI 18 there.

Digital now, physical later

Gematsu and Nintendo Wire both report January 29, 2027 as the date for the physical editions. Capcom has not detailed what the boxed versions will contain or which cartridge format they will use, and prices for them have not been announced in the sources we checked.

That format question matters. Some Switch 2 boxed games ship as game key cards, which download the game instead of storing it on the cartridge. If offline play or resale value is important to you, check the box or the official store listing before you preorder.

A long road to Switch 2

These remakes are not new on other platforms. Resident Evil 2 first launched in 2019, Resident Evil 3 in 2020 and Resident Evil 4 in 2023, according to Gematsu. On the original Switch, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 were only offered as cloud streaming versions, while the new Switch 2 releases are full downloads that run on the console itself.

What it means for you

If you own a Switch 2 and want to play now, the eShop versions are already available. If you collect physical games or like to lend and resell them, waiting until January 29, 2027 makes sense, but wait for Capcom to confirm the cartridge format before you commit.

Newcomers may want to start with Resident Evil 2, which sets up the Raccoon City story that later games build on. Players who want the most content in a single purchase should look at Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, which bundles the extra scenario and The Mercenaries mode. Make sure your console has enough free storage before you download, since the Resident Evil 4 package alone takes 26.9 GB.