Minecraft Switch 2 Editions Compared: Standard vs Deluxe vs Ultimate

Minecraft for Nintendo Switch 2 launches on October 27, 2026 in three digital editions: Standard ($29.99), Deluxe Collection ($39.99) and Ultimate Collection ($49.99). If you already own Minecraft digitally on the original Switch, the Standard Edition for Switch 2 is free through the Nintendo eShop until January 31, 2027. That makes the choice easy for most families: claim the free upgrade, or buy Standard, and only pay more if you actually want the add-ons.

Quick answer

• You own Minecraft digitally on Switch 1: Get the free Standard Edition for Switch 2 from the eShop before the offer ends. Pay the discounted upgrade fee only if you want the Deluxe or Ultimate extras.
• New to Minecraft on Switch: Buy Standard ($29.99). It’s the full game plus the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack.
• Your kid will spend Minecoins anyway: Deluxe ($39.99) includes 700 Minecoins and three add-ons for $10 more.
• You want the most content up front: Ultimate ($49.99) adds two more add-ons and 1,000 Minecoins.

Minecraft Switch 2 editions side by side

Edition contents come from Mojang’s pre-order announcement. US prices are the eShop listings reported by Nintendo Wire and GodisaGeek.

The free upgrade, explained

This is the part most Switch owners need. Mojang says that if you own a digital copy of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch, you can pre-order the digital Standard Edition for Switch 2 for free until the end of January 2027:

• Where: Only through the Nintendo eShop.
• Deadline: The end of January 2027. Mojang calls it a limited-time offer, so don’t count on it lasting.
• Japan and Taiwan: Not free, but close: 100 yen in Japan and 30 NT dollars in Taiwan.
• Deluxe or Ultimate: Digital owners can move up to either collection for a discounted fee. Mojang hasn’t published those prices; check the eShop on your own account.
• Physical cartridge owners: Mojang’s post only covers digital copies. No upgrade for cartridges has been announced, so plan on buying Standard.

Your Switch 1 worlds carry over to the new version, according to Mojang, so you won’t lose any builds.

What’s different on Switch 2?

The headline upgrade is Vibrant Visuals, Minecraft’s newer lighting and shadow mode. Vibrant Visuals is a graphics option that adds better lighting, shadows and effects to the normal game. Mojang notes that it doesn’t work everywhere: split-screen play and some Marketplace worlds fall back to the standard look. The updated Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, exclusive to Nintendo platforms, comes with every edition.

One catch for the bigger editions: Minecoins included with the game, or bought on a Nintendo device, can only be spent on Nintendo systems. If your family plays on several platforms, keep that in mind before paying extra for coins.

Physical copies

A physical Switch 2 version is sold at retail too. Nintendo Wire reports it’s a Game-Key Card, which means the box holds a key that downloads the game rather than the full game on a cartridge.

Our read: For most households this is really a $0 decision, not a $30-to-$50 one. The free Standard Edition already gets you the Switch 2 graphics, and Deluxe and Ultimate are mostly Minecoins plus add-ons that are also sold separately on the Marketplace. Unless you know you’ll spend 700+ Minecoins anyway, start with Standard and buy add-ons later as you need them.

Which one should you buy?

• Switch 1 digital owner: Free Standard. Upgrade only if the discounted price on your account is low enough.
• First-time buyer or a gift for a younger player: Standard at $29.99.
• Regular Marketplace spender: Deluxe. The 700 Minecoins cover a good part of the $10 gap.
• Builder who wants everything: Ultimate, for Decocraft’s furniture and decor blocks plus 1,000 Minecoins.

For other big Switch 2 launches this month, see our release calendar.

Edited by Kerwin Stewart, Editor-in-Chief · How we report