Minecraft gets dedicated version for Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27

Mojang Studios has confirmed that Minecraft will have a dedicated version for the Nintendo Switch 2 starting October 27. The announcement was made by the game's official website and ends the wait for those who bought Nintendo's new console and, until now, could only play through backward compatibility with the original Switch build.

The main change highlighted by the studio is graphic: the Switch 2 edition arrives with Vibrant Visuals enabled as the default visual experience. The Super Mario Mash-Up pack, exclusive to Nintendo versions of the game, also gets an update designed to take advantage of the new mode. In addition, Mojang informed that there will be a digital upgrade path for those who already own the title on the original Switch.

What Vibrant Visuals changes

Released in 2025 for Bedrock platforms, Vibrant Visuals is described by Mojang itself as the biggest visual overhaul ever applied to Minecraft. Among the effects mentioned are directional lighting, volumetric fog, improved shadows and other features aimed at increasing the feeling of immersion in the worlds generated by the game.

On Switch 2, this mode is enabled by default, not as a secondary option. Supported Marketplace content can also be viewed with the new presentation, as long as the package in question supports the feature. Players who prefer the classic look can disable the mode.

There are, however, limitations stated by the studio. Vibrant Visuals will not be available in some specific situations:

• Split-screen matches;
• Certain game modes;
• Certain worlds and content in the Marketplace.

Super Mario Mash-Up gets update

The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, only available on Nintendo versions of Minecraft, will be updated to take better advantage of the new visual effects. The content maintains the themed world inspired by the plumber franchise, with its own soundtrack and skins.

Among the blocky recreated scenarios that are part of the package are recognizable locations from the series, such as Peach's Castle and Delfino Plaza. Mojang describes the new version of the package as optimized for Nintendo's latest hardware, although it did not technically detail what changes from the previous version.

Upgrade for those who already own the game on Switch

For the public that has already purchased Minecraft on Nintendo Switch, the studio confirmed the existence of a digital upgrade path towards the Switch 2 edition. It was also reported that it will be possible to carry over save data from the previous version to the new one, which avoids starting over worlds already built.

The point still open is the cost. Mojang did not disclose values, eligibility conditions or the step-by-step redemption of the update, limiting itself to saying that more details will be revealed later.

Price and rules of the digital upgrade have not yet been officially confirmed by Mojang. Any figure quoted before the studio's announcement should be treated as speculation.

Why the native version was expected

Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, anyone who wanted to play Minecraft on the device had to resort to the build made for the previous console, executed via backward compatibility. This solution worked, but it carried with it known issues from the Switch version, such as performance drops, reduced vision range, and failures related to Microsoft account login.

A version built specifically for newer hardware tends to address some of these limitations, although the studio did not address these points directly in the statement. It is worth remembering that Minecraft is the best-selling game in history and is available on an extensive number of platforms, accumulated over several generations of consoles, PCs and mobile devices.

What has not yet been detailed

The announcement focused on the visual proposal and left out technical information that usually interests the public. There was no mention of frame rate, resolution, or load times targets in the Switch 2 edition, nor direct comparisons to other platforms.

Another open item is support for the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, a feature that could facilitate more precise constructions. Mojang has not confirmed whether the feature will be present. There is also, so far, no details about the physical version, price in Brazil or any pre-order bonuses. The studio said that new information will be released before the release, scheduled for October 27.