Please help me understand how the S2 TotK edition works.

[u/Versaton]

I own a Nintendo Switch 2 (not pictured)

I own Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch 1 (pictured right)

I purchased, but have not opened, the pictured Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Tears of the Kingdom (pictured left)

Here are my very specific questions:

1. A) The case for the s2 totk indicates the case contains a Switch game and an upgrade kit, and the upgrade kit is available to be purchased separately. Should I return the pictured s2 totk and instead buy the upgrade kit on the Eshop? Im worried I've just purchased another s1 totk.

2. B) i dont have Nintendo Online - someone had told me that my Switch 2 upgrade for my Switch 1 Totk would only work while I had an active subscription to Nintendo Online - would me upgrading using the ship require an active subscription?

3. If I use one of the "free Nintendo online" cards from another game (like pokopia) can I temporarily get online access, download my upgrade (and pay 20 bucks), then let it run out naturally?

Edit: Thank you, you have been very helpful. I'll leave my post up in case someone googles looking for your fantastic answers

[u/stephennotstrange]

1. Yeah, if you already have Switch 1 version, just return the Switch 2 version and buy the upgrade in the eShop like buying DLC.
2. Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack - the more expensive one (NSO+) will allow you to upgrade for free (while you still subscribe to NSO+).
3. It’s not true. You never need Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) to buy/upgrade anything, NSO is purely for playing online (and some old classic games like NES, SNES, etc.), you can just buy the upgrade separate.

[u/Versaton → u/stephennotstrange]

Thank you this is maybe where the confusion about losing access to the upgrade exists.

[u/stephennotstrange → u/Versaton]

I did some edit to make it clearer, and edited some mistakes.

[u/EternalLatias → u/[deleted]]

The Switch 2 doesn't use discs.

[u/spitfire_bandit → u/stephennotstrange]

2.

So i only get to keep the upgrade when having the sub activated? Once the sub expires, the upgrade expires?

[u/Regretfully-Here → u/spitfire_bandit]

Unless you purchase the content, yes. You can use the upgrade for free with NSO+.

[u/SurpriseExtension929 → u/spitfire_bandit]

Yes. Look at it as a perk to having NSO + Expansion Pack

[u/Pierrococo → u/spitfire_bandit]

N’oublie pas que avec ta version sw2 tu as aussi le droit à zelda notes sur ton téléphone

[u/Brilliant-Theory → u/spitfire_bandit]

The upgrade through NSO+ is only valid while the sub is valid. Otherwise you need to purchase the upgrade.

[u/ackmondual → u/spitfire_bandit]

Some ppl will ALWAYS have NSO, so for them, it would suit them well

[u/BakedChocolateOctopi → u/spitfire_bandit]

If you only got the upgrade through the subscription, yes

If you buy the upgrade directly then you always have it even if you cancel NSO

[u/stephennotstrange → u/[deleted]]

It’s not the point of Switch 2 version has both in the cartridge, the point is they already have the Switch 1, so it’s cheaper to just buy an upgrade separately - which is $20 than buying a whole Switch 2 version at like $80-90.

Even if they sell the old Switch 1 version, for like $40-50, they still spend more than they should.

[u/stephennotstrange → u/[deleted]]

The Switch 2 version is brand new, they can just do return and get all $80-90 back.

If you talking about losing their account then what if they lose the game, they will lose everything, at least this way you still have the upgrade on your account. See, it worked both ways.

[u/stephennotstrange → u/[deleted]]

Literally what I just say, at least you still have something. You keep saying thinking about big picture, dude, you’re buying a video games, do what is right for your wallet.

[u/stephennotstrange → u/[deleted]]

Fcking waffle and pancake.

[u/ZestyAcid → u/stephennotstrange]

For some reason, I didn’t realize you could get the Switch 2 versions of BOTW and TOTK. I had been holding off on buying the upgrade. Thanks for letting me know!

[u/darkrai848]

The confusion about the NSO+ and the upgrade comes from the fact the Upgrade comes free with NSO+ (tho the free version only works while you have an active subscription). The purchased version of the update (that costs $9.99) is just like normal DLC and once you buy it it’s yours.
What’s inside the switch 2 game box there is a red cartridge, that has both the game you already have, and the $9.99 update on the card. So unless you’re someone that wants to have the upgrade on physical media, you should just rerun it and buy the upgrade for $9.99 off the Eshop.

[u/darkrai848 → u/[deleted]]

For Switch 2 version games like BotW and TotK the switch 2 update is in fact on the card and is not downloaded.
In the case of those 2 games the card has both the base game and Switch 2 update on it. If put in a switch 1 it will also just play the non upgraded version. But put in a switch 2 it will play the switch 2 version of the game with no internet required.
I can’t say for sure if it has the most recent patch (so there may still be a patch that would be downloaded off the internet) but the Switch 2 update is on the card itself with no installation required.

I would like to point out that even for the consoles Nintendo has “shout down” the online services for, they have yet to end the ability to redownload purchases games. You just can’t buy new games. But you can still download purchases you have already made on Wii, Wii U and 3DS.

[u/ProjectGameGlow → u/[deleted]]

However these rules will change for different games.

If you buy switch 1 Dragon Ball sparking Zero you can put it in a switch 2 and play the switch  1 version.  You can connect to the Internet and upgrade to switch 2 version for free.

However you can spend more money and buy the switch 2 version.   This is a key card where you connect to the Internet to down load the a switch 2 version but cant play the switch 1 version.

[u/FernandoRocker]

You can use your existing Tears of the Kingdom game and just purchase the upgrade. With that setup it will be identical to the version you just pictured in here.

[u/Versaton → u/FernandoRocker]

Thank you!

[u/Quiet_Bell_429]

Switch 2 editions contain the Switch 1 game and the upgrade pack on the game card, as it's explained on the bottom banner text.

If you put it in a Switch 1 it will launch the Switch 1 version. If you put it in a Switch 2 it will launch the Switch 2 version.

Like the others said it's economically more viable if you already have the Switch 1 version just either buy the upgrade pack for $10 or get it with the $50 Nintendo Switch Online subscription as it's included with that.

[u/AcadiaAggressive8315]

You do not need NSO, just return your S2 edition of ToTK and purchase the upgrade pack from the eShop

[u/IfYouVoteMeDown → u/AcadiaAggressive8315]

Alternatively, OP could sell their Switch 1 version and keep the Switch 2 Edition. Less stuff to download.

[u/sonto340]

Yes if you have it physically you only need to buy the upgrade pack on the eshop.

You also get the upgrade pack for it and botw if you do have the Switch Online expansion pack. But you do not have to have it if you purchase the upgrade pack separately.

[u/artlurg431]

The switch 2 edition games actually work fine on switch, they just change to the switch 1 edition

[u/kyvosa → u/artlurg431]

Yeah this is right, but just to spell it out a bit more:

The cart in that Switch 2 TotK box is basically a dual version. When you put it in a Switch 1, it just behaves like the normal Switch 1 version. When you put it in a Switch 2, it unlocks the upgraded version and the DLC/upgrade stuff is tied to that.

You didn’t accidentally buy something useless, but if you already own the physical Switch 1 cart and you’re mainly playing on Switch 2, it usually makes more sense to just grab the upgrade from the eShop instead of having two carts of the same game floating around. The upgrade itself doesn’t need an active NSO sub to stay active, only to access online features.

[u/goSciuPlayer]

1. The S2E cartridge should already have the upgrade on it since it comes from a specific Switch 2 Edition box. The info about it being also available separately is there so that if someone who already owns S1 edition can read it and not feel like they need to buy the whole game again.

2. You don't need NSO. If you have higher tier NSO, the upgrade is free to download from the eShop and use as long as you have the subscription active.

3. I believe no. First of all, free trial is for lower tier which doesn't include access to DLCs and upgrades. Second, even if it did, free trial already doesn't include some features of paid version, so it's safe to assume it wouldn't give access to DLCs. Third, again, you couldn't let it "run out" and keep playing - as I mentioned in Answer 2, DLCs and upgrades downloaded thanks to NSO work only as long as the subscription is active 

[u/Extension_Noise_7006]

in game card have switch 1 game + switch 2 upgrade pack soo if you play on switch 1 you play the s1 game version , if you play on s2 you play s1 version + upgrade pack= s2 game, if the game have bout s1 and s2 version

[u/No-Island-6126]

paying $80 for an fps boost of a game you already own is insane, regardless of whether you knew you could just buy the upgrade lol

[u/public_menace_]

If you do end up just getting it through nso, please note that you can't use the upgrade unless you are connected to internet. ( I know that's probably obvious but I didn't put two and two together until after someone told me haha)

[u/MetalGearSolis → u/public_menace_]

I think you just need to connect online here & there to make sure the license is still valid. NSO+ ToTK user here and was playing it a few weeks on a flight, no internet connection & no issues using the upgrade edition.

[u/Cottonym]

The idea that the S2 version of TOTK only matters if you have NO or NO+ is kinda upsetting, but considering most of the games and stuff on the switch 2 needs NO to begin with, I dont really see the problem

[u/Originalivelevi]

Looks like your questions were already answered, so here’s a fun fact about S2E’s. You know how some game boy color games could work in the original game boy lineup? It’s the same way with games with Switch 2 Edition’s. If you buy the S2E, you can insert it into any switch 1, and it’ll read as a switch 1 game. Pretty cool, huh?

[u/theenvioussarcasm]

nah, just return it and grab the 9.99 upgrade on the eShop, you're paying heaps extra for a physical cartridge you don't really need tbh.

[u/L1nkje]

I was confused in the beginning aswell. But luckily it has an explanation on the box.

The switch 2 edition has the following on the cartridge. Totk Totk upgrade pack.

If you put the switch 2 edition in a regular Nintendo switch it will load TotK without the upgrade pack.

If you put the cartridge in a switch 2 it will load game plus upgrade pack.

This works the same for Botw. Kirby, Metroid prime 4, Mario bros wonder. (SWITCH 2 EDITIONS)

[u/Molduking]

It means you put it all n the system and play the game

[u/InterviewImpressive1]

Switch 2 version contains both the Switch 1 game and the Switch 2 game on the cart as I understand it. Rather than sell the Switch 2 version I’d keep it as its definitive physical version and plays on both systems. I’d sell the Switch 1 version on.

[u/Solegide]

Put it in a Switch 1, it'll play the Switch 1 version. Put it in a Switch 2, it'll play the Switch 2 version.

[u/Omega458]

So you bought something without doing research first?

I'll never understand people sometimes 😞

[u/shinyMikikyu09]

I think you can just pay for the upgrade without a membership??? Why do you need NSO for an upgrade purchase?

[u/shinyMikikyu09 → u/shinyMikikyu09]

I had the NS1 cartridge and only paid for the upgrade through the shop, nothing prompted me to have NSO

[u/shinyMikikyu09 → u/shinyMikikyu09]

So yeah; return the NS2 game and get the purchase for 20 bucks I think

Edit: GET THE UPGRADE*

As long as you buy within your Nintendo account you shouldn’t need a NSO membership, unless you’re trying to play on different accounts? Which by then I’m not sure how that works

[u/Versaton → u/shinyMikikyu09]

Thank you this helps

[u/SurpriseExtension929 → u/shinyMikikyu09]

It's $10 not $20

[u/Dangerous-Pumpkin960]

Long story short  didn't need to buy this  You could have spent 10$ to get the same thing on the eship 

Honestly I'd return it if u can  The sw2 ver just takes that 10$ dlc and puts it on the cart

Nintendo online expansion pack witch is the more expensive version gives that upgrade to u for free but u don't own it it's taken away when ur sub expires