The Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade lets existing digital owners of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch claim the native Switch 2 Standard Edition at no cost in the UK and most other regions. The offer runs through January 31, 2027 at 9 AM Pacific.
Minecraft launched on Switch 2 on October 27, 2026. If you own only the original Switch cartridge, you have a different deal: a discounted digital Ultimate Collection through an invitation inside the old game. This guide covers the free offer for digital owners.
Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade eligibility
The Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade belongs to the Nintendo Account that purchased the original game digitally. It gives you the native Standard Edition, including Vibrant Visuals and the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. Deluxe and Ultimate are optional paid bundles with extra content.
Japan charges 100 JPY, Taiwan charges 30 NTD and Thailand charges 25 THB instead of offering a zero-price Standard upgrade. The UK is included in the free territories. Your account’s eShop region determines the actual offer displayed.
How to claim Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade in eShop
Claim the Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade through Nintendo eShop on your Switch 2. Sign in using the account that originally bought Minecraft digitally, not another profile that simply shares access to it.
- Sign in on Switch 2 with the Nintendo Account that bought the original digital game.
- Open Nintendo eShop.
- Find Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 Standard Edition.
- Check that the upgrade offer displays as free for your account (or the listed local fee in an exception region).
- Claim the edition, download it and launch the native Switch 2 game.
After claiming, download and start Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2. It’s a separate application from the old game running through backward compatibility. If Standard still shows a purchase price, check the account and region before paying.
When does the free Minecraft Switch 2 upgrade expire?
The offer began October 27, 2026 at 9 AM PT and expires January 31, 2027 at 9 AM PT. That’s the deadline to claim the promotion, not an expiry date for Minecraft itself.
The Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade is a licence you claim with your Nintendo Account. Once claimed, download the native edition and move your saved worlds separately. The January deadline applies to the promotional claim.
Can physical cartridge owners get the same free upgrade?
No. The free Standard offer is linked to ownership of the old digital game. Inserting an original Switch cartridge into Switch 2 does not convert it into a digital entitlement. Physical owners have a different discount path.
Launch the original Switch Minecraft game on Switch 2 during the offer period. Mojang says an in-game message offers digital Ultimate Collection at a discount. Our physical upgrade guide explains this separate offer.
Why is my free upgrade not showing?
If the Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade isn’t showing, check the account first. A family member might have purchased the original digital game and shared it on your console. Open Nintendo eShop as the purchasing user to see that account’s upgrade offer.
Look specifically for Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 Standard Edition. Deluxe and Ultimate are discounted, not free. Check you’re not looking at the older Switch software and that you’re still within the promotional window.
In Japan, Taiwan and Thailand, the small listed upgrade charge is part of the promotion. If Standard still appears at full price on an eligible account in the UK, check the Nintendo purchase history and contact Nintendo support with your transaction details before buying again.
What happens to your worlds and Minecoins?
Claiming the Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade doesn’t move worlds between consoles. Transfer the original Minecraft save to the correct user profile on Switch 2, then use the native game’s migration tools. Our world-transfer guide covers automatic conversion and Sync Old Worlds.
The Switch 2 Standard Edition includes no premium-bundle Minecoin allocation. Deluxe includes 700 Minecoins and Ultimate 1,000. Minecoins bought on Nintendo hardware after October 27 must be spent in Nintendo’s ecosystem. See our Minecoins guide before choosing an edition.
Related Guides
Official source: Mojang’s October 27 Switch 2 upgrade instructions.
