The Minecraft Switch 2 release date was October 27, 2026, and the native Nintendo Switch 2 edition is now available. It brings Vibrant Visuals, updated Super Mario content and an upgrade route for people who already own Minecraft on the original Switch.
The upgrade offer is live as well. Most digital owners can get the Switch 2 Standard Edition free, while Deluxe and Ultimate Collection upgrades are discounted. Owners of physical Switch cartridges have a different offer. Both promotions end on January 31, 2027, so check which route applies before paying full price.
Minecraft Switch 2 release date: is Minecraft out now?
Yes. The Minecraft Switch 2 release date was Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Mojang announced the launch that day. The native game is available in digital Standard, Deluxe Collection and Ultimate Collection versions, with a physical Standard Edition at retail.
The new edition is designed for Switch 2 rather than simply running the old Switch build through backward compatibility. Its main change is Vibrant Visuals, which is enabled by default and adds enhanced lighting, fog and shadows. You should still check your upgrade eligibility before buying the game again.
How to get the Minecraft Switch 2 free upgrade
The Minecraft Switch 2 release date also marked the opening of an upgrade window. It runs from October 27, 2026 at 9 AM PT to January 31, 2027 at 9 AM PT. If you own a digital copy of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch, you can claim the new digital Standard Edition free in most regions through Nintendo eShop.
Open the eShop using the Nintendo Account that owns your original digital Minecraft copy. Find the Switch 2 edition and check the upgrade price for your account. Digital owners can choose a free Standard Edition upgrade, where eligible, or pay a discounted price for the Deluxe or Ultimate Collection instead. The premium editions are not free.
Three territories charge a small fee for the Standard Edition digital upgrade. Japan costs 100 JPY, Taiwan costs 30 NTD, and Thailand costs 25 THB. The Minecraft Switch 2 release date and closing date are the same, but eligible upgrade prices vary by region.
What if you own the physical Minecraft Switch version?
Physical cartridge owners do not get the same free digital Standard Edition offer as digital owners. Mojang has now confirmed a discounted digital Ultimate Collection upgrade for players with physical copies. It is a separate offer accessed from inside the older game.
During the promotion, launch Minecraft for Nintendo Switch on your Switch 2. Mojang says an in-game message will invite players, including cartridge owners, to buy the digital Minecraft Ultimate Collection for Nintendo Switch 2 at a discount. Follow the message’s link to see that offer. Do not assume the regular eShop listing shows the same price without opening the invitation.
Can you transfer Minecraft worlds from Switch to Switch 2?
Yes. Mojang confirms that your Nintendo Switch Minecraft worlds can carry over to the new edition. The Minecraft Switch 2 release date launch announcement links to dedicated Switch-to-Switch 2 world-migration support, so the worlds you have been building do not have to be left behind.
Upgrading the game and moving your world data are separate tasks. Keep your old console and save data until you have confirmed your chosen world opens correctly on Switch 2. Mojang’s launch announcement, linked below, includes its migration support page. Mojang also confirms that the Switch 2 edition includes a Sync Old Worlds option for individual transfers. On the Switch 2 edition, open Settings, select Storage, then Sync Old Worlds. After syncing, choose Manage to find and convert an older world. The full migration support article linked below also explains the automatic first-launch method.
Vibrant Visuals and the updated Super Mario Mash-Up
The Minecraft Switch 2 release date brings Mojang’s improved graphics to Switch 2. Vibrant Visuals adds directional lighting, volumetric fog and dynamic shadows, and supported Marketplace content can use the effects. It will not work in every situation. Mojang specifically notes that split-screen and some Marketplace worlds or content are excluded. See our Minecraft Switch 2 Vibrant Visuals guide for more.
Every edition includes the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, refreshed with Vibrant Visuals support. The Nintendo-exclusive pack contains locations such as Peach’s Castle and Delfino Plaza, plus 15 music tracks and 40 player skins. Mojang says to claim the pack through Minecraft Marketplace and create a world to use it. Our Super Mario Mash-Up Switch 2 guide covers the Nintendo extras.
Minecraft Switch 2 Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate Collection
| Edition | Included content | Existing digital-owner upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Minecraft, Vibrant Visuals and Super Mario Mash-Up | Free in most regions; 100 JPY in Japan, 30 NTD in Taiwan, 25 THB in Thailand |
| Deluxe Collection | Standard content, Celebration Food, Rescue Dogs and Plenty O’Blocks add-ons, three Character Creator items and 700 Minecoins | Discounted |
| Ultimate Collection | Deluxe plus Decocraft and Weapons + Tools add-ons, five Character Creator items and 1,000 Minecoins in total | Discounted; separate in-game discount for physical owners |
The Minecraft Switch 2 release date is now behind us, but the limited-time offers still have several months left. Extra add-ons and Minecoins depend on the edition you choose. Minecoins included in a Switch 2 collection, or purchased on a Nintendo device, must be spent in Nintendo’s ecosystem. Our Minecoin Nintendo changes guide explains those restrictions.
Minecraft Switch 2 release date: which upgrade offer applies?
Owners of the original digital Switch game can claim the native Switch 2 Standard Edition free in the UK and most regions through Nintendo eShop. Japan, Taiwan and Thailand have small fees. Original Switch cartridge owners have a different deal: launch the older Minecraft game on Switch 2 to find an in-game invitation to buy the digital Ultimate Collection at a discount. The cartridge alone does not unlock free Standard.
Since the Minecraft Switch 2 release date has passed, owners should check their entitlement before buying again. Follow our free digital upgrade guide or physical cartridge upgrade guide. Both offers end January 31, 2027 at 9 AM PT, not at an assumed UK midnight deadline.
Minecraft Switch 2 release date: when does the upgrade offer end?
Both confirmed upgrade routes end at 9 AM Pacific Time on January 31, 2027. If you own Minecraft digitally on Switch, check the eShop entitlement attached to your Nintendo Account. If you own the physical version, open the original Switch game on Switch 2 to look for the Ultimate Collection discount. The Minecraft Switch 2 release date has passed, so the main thing to do now is claim the right offer before the deadline.
Related Guides
Official source: Mojang’s October 27 Minecraft Switch 2 launch announcement.
