If you own It Takes Two for the original Nintendo Switch, EA says you can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for free. Digital owners start in Nintendo eShop; physical-cartridge owners launch the game and select its in-game eShop icon. The Switch 2 Edition is announced for October 15, 2026, so check your region’s eShop listing to confirm that the upgrade is live.
What the upgrade gives you
The upgrade changes the version of It Takes Two installed on your console; it is not a second purchase for people who already own the Nintendo Switch edition. EA’s support guidance says the free upgrade is available only to owners of the Nintendo Switch version. A copy purchased for another platform does not qualify for this Nintendo upgrade path.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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It Takes Two Switch / Switch 2 | VideoGame | English | $32.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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It Takes Two - Compatible with Nintendo Switch (EU Version) | $35.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Cuphead - Nintendo Switch | $31.97 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies? | Owners of It Takes Two for Nintendo Switch, whether the copy is digital or physical. |
| Upgrade price | Free, according to EA. |
| Digital-copy route | Open Nintendo eShop and use the upgrade option for the game. |
| Physical-copy route | Start the game with the cartridge available, then select the game’s in-game eShop icon. |
| Other-platform copies | EA says copies from other platforms do not qualify for this upgrade. |
| Announced release date | October 15, 2026. Regional eShop availability should be checked after that date. |
The free offer applies to the upgrade entitlement, not to a new copy of the game for someone who does not already own the Nintendo Switch edition. If you are buying It Takes Two for the first time, you still need to obtain the Nintendo Switch game; EA’s free-upgrade statement is for existing Nintendo Switch owners.
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Check these conditions before you begin
- You need a Nintendo Switch 2 console and an ownership entitlement for the Nintendo Switch edition.
- For a physical copy, keep the game cartridge available. Nintendo’s general upgrade guidance also requires the purchased virtual game card to be loaded on the console when the entitlement is digital.
- Make sure the console can connect to Nintendo eShop and that the Nintendo account used on the console is the account associated with the digital purchase, if you own the digital version.
- Allow time for a game update as well as the upgrade pack. Nintendo notes that a software update can be required in addition to a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack.
- If the game’s listing does not show an upgrade yet, confirm the regional release status. EA announced October 15, 2026 as the release date and stated that preorders were unavailable.
The release date is an announced date, not a guarantee that every regional storefront will display the same listing at the same moment. On or after launch, search your own eShop rather than relying on a listing from another country. Before October 15, an absent upgrade button is expected; after launch, it becomes a troubleshooting issue only if the entitlement and system requirements are also in place.
#1 Best Overall
- Fully compatible with Switch 2. Reminder: The Nintendo Switch 2 system's hardware is different from Nintendo Switch, and some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2
- Pure Co-Op Perfection: As Cody and May, embark on a crazy journey built purely for two in couch co-op or online through Friend's Pass
- Gleefully Disruptive Gameplay: Master unique and connected character abilities with every new level; You'll never know what you're up against next
- A Universal Tale of Relationships: Discover a metaphorical merging of gameplay and narrative in a light-hearted story of the hardships in getting along
- Help each other across an abundance of unexpected obstacles and laugh-out-loud moments; Embrace a heartfelt and hilarious story where narrative and gameplay weave into a uniquely metaphorical experience
Upgrade a digital Nintendo Switch copy
Use this route if you bought It Takes Two digitally for the original Nintendo Switch. The exact button wording can vary by storefront layout, but the process remains inside Nintendo eShop.
- Connect the Switch 2 to the internet and open Nintendo eShop.
- Use the eShop search to find It Takes Two. Select the listing for the Nintendo Switch game that you own.
- Look for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade option. EA says existing Nintendo Switch owners can upgrade for free; do not proceed with a separate full-price purchase if the upgrade entitlement is not shown.
- Choose the free upgrade option and follow the on-screen download instructions.
- Wait for the download and any required software update to finish. Keep the console connected to power if the download is large or your connection is slow.
- Launch the game and check the title screen. Nintendo’s troubleshooting guidance says the screen should identify the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition after a successful upgrade.
If you have more than one Switch console, verify that the purchased virtual game card is loaded on the Switch 2 you are using. Nintendo lists that entitlement check as one of the standard requirements for accessing Switch 2 Edition content. Being signed in to the correct account is not by itself enough if the virtual game card is assigned to another console.
Do not confuse the original game listing with a separate full-price Switch 2 purchase. The practical test is the price shown for the upgrade: an eligible Nintendo Switch owner should see the free upgrade route. If the store instead asks you to pay for the complete game, stop and verify the account, listing, release timing, and virtual-game-card status.
Upgrade a physical Nintendo Switch copy
Use the in-game route if your ownership is on a physical Nintendo Switch cartridge.
- Insert the It Takes Two Nintendo Switch cartridge into the Switch 2.
- Start the game from the Home menu. The cartridge must be available because it supplies the base-game entitlement.
- On the game’s menu, select the icon that opens Nintendo eShop for the Switch 2 upgrade. EA specifically directs physical owners to enter eShop through this in-game icon.
- When eShop opens, choose the free Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade and complete the download.
- Install any additional game update requested by the console.
- Start the game again and confirm that the title screen identifies the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
The cartridge remains important after the upgrade if the base license is physical. Keep it inserted whenever the console asks you to verify ownership. Downloading the enhanced files does not turn a cartridge entitlement into a digital license.
If searching eShop manually does not expose the correct entitlement, return to the game and use its own eShop icon. That route is the one EA specifies for physical owners and links the store transaction to the cartridge-based ownership check.
What if you own the game on another platform?
EA’s free upgrade applies to the Nintendo Switch edition. An Xbox, PlayStation, or PC copy does not unlock the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition through this process. You would need ownership of the Nintendo Switch version to use the eShop upgrade route.
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Ownership is therefore platform-specific. Having purchased It Takes Two elsewhere may let you play on that other platform, but it does not create a Nintendo eShop entitlement. There is no cross-platform transfer step in EA’s Switch 2 upgrade instructions.
What changes in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition?
EA lists both a performance increase and visual upgrades. The clearest numerical comparison is for docked play:
| Feature | Original Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Docked frame rate | 30 FPS, according to EA’s comparison | 60 FPS |
| Resolution | EA’s cited comparison does not state a resolution for the original edition | 1080p native resolution |
| Texture quality | Original Switch presentation | Maximum texture resolution |
| Lighting | Original Switch presentation | Improved lighting |
| Visual-effects complexity | Original Switch presentation | More complex visual effects |
| Dynamic shadows | Original Switch presentation | Improved dynamic-shadow quality |
The 60 FPS and 1080p figures are specifically associated with docked mode in EA’s support information. EA does not state a handheld frame rate or handheld resolution on the cited page, so do not assume that the docked specifications apply unchanged when the console is undocked.
Rank #2
- Step into the shoes of Cody and May, a clashing couple who turn into dolls through unknown magical means. Trapped in a fantastical world where unpredictability hides around every corner, they must reluctantly learn to overcome their differences, save their fractured relationship, and find their path back home to their beloved daughter Rose
- You and a friend can play couch co-op with a pair of Joycons and a second gamepad, utilize local wireless play by connecting two Switch consoles together, or play online co-op with another Switch player using Friend’s pass
- Voice-overs in Japanese, French, German, and Spanish, as well subtitles spread even further across regions, allow more players to experience the game's unpredictable world
- Filled with genre-bending challenges and character abilities to master as you experience a metaphorical merging of gameplay and narrative to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling like never before
In practical terms, docked players are the audience for whom EA gives the clearest measurable benefit: the stated frame rate doubles from 30 FPS to 60 FPS, while the image is rendered at native 1080p. The remaining improvements are quality settings rather than a separate game or new story content: maximum texture resolution, improved lighting, more complex visual effects, and better dynamic shadows.
Play with friends after upgrading
The edition your group uses matters. Before inviting someone, identify both the friend’s platform and whether they are running the original Switch edition or the Switch 2 Edition.
| Your version | Friend’s platform or version | What EA says |
|---|---|---|
| Switch 2 Edition | Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, or PC | Online play is supported across these platforms. |
| Switch 2 Edition | Another Switch 2 player | Local and online play are supported. |
| Switch 2 Edition | Original Nintendo Switch player for online play | The Switch 2 player should downgrade to the original Switch edition through Nintendo eShop for that session. |
| Switch 2 player’s local session | Nintendo Switch player using Nintendo GameShare | EA describes GameShare as a way for a Nintendo Switch player to join a Switch 2 player’s local session. |
Online play can also require the online subscription associated with the platform being used. EA’s guidance identifies that requirement by platform; check the current Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation, or PC account requirements for every participant before starting an online session. The upgrade itself remains free, but online access is a separate platform-service question.
The important exception is an online session between a Switch 2 player and someone running the original Switch edition. EA says the Switch 2 player should use the original edition for that session. Upgrading does not remove multiplayer access; it means you may need to select the compatible edition before joining.
How to downgrade temporarily for an original-Switch friend
Upgrading does not permanently lock you out of the original edition. EA says the Switch 2 player can downgrade through Nintendo eShop for free when online play with someone on the original Switch edition requires it.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- Open Nintendo eShop on the Switch 2.
- Open the It Takes Two product page associated with your ownership.
- Select the option to download or use the original Nintendo Switch edition rather than the Switch 2 Edition.
- Wait for the edition change or download to complete, then launch the game.
- Use the original edition for the session with the friend on Nintendo Switch.
- When you want the enhanced presentation again, return to the same eShop listing and select the Switch 2 Edition.
EA describes this downgrade as free. Plan the switch before your scheduled game session because changing editions can require a download and an update. A physical owner should also keep the cartridge inserted, since changing the installed edition does not change the underlying cartridge entitlement.
Original Switch compatibility on Switch 2
Even without installing the enhanced edition, Nintendo lists the original It Takes Two Switch game as supported on Switch 2, with behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch. That gives you a fallback if the upgrade is not yet visible or if you need the original edition to match a friend’s online version.
Compatibility is different from enhancement: the supported original game can run on Switch 2, while the Switch 2 Edition supplies the higher docked frame rate, 1080p native resolution, maximum texture resolution, and the listed lighting, effects, and shadow improvements. Nintendo’s compatibility label does not promise the enhanced edition’s specifications; those come from EA’s Switch 2 Edition description.
Troubleshoot a missing or incomplete upgrade
Use the following order. These checks come from Nintendo’s general Switch 2 Edition upgrade guidance, while the ownership routes above come from EA’s game-specific instructions.
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- Check the release timing for your region. EA announced October 15, 2026; a regional storefront can show the entitlement only after its own listing is live.
- Confirm that you are signed in with the Nintendo account that owns the digital game. For a physical copy, insert the cartridge and open the game’s in-game eShop icon instead of searching for an unrelated listing.
- Update the Switch 2 system software.
- Return to Nintendo eShop and open the game’s product page again.
The upgrade downloads but the enhanced features are missing
- Check for a separate game software update. Nintendo says an update in addition to the upgrade pack may be necessary.
- Restart the console after the download and update finish.
- Launch the game and read the title screen. It should identify the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
The digital game cannot be accessed
- Open the console’s virtual game-card management and confirm that the purchased virtual game card is loaded on the Switch 2 being used.
- Switch to the Nintendo account that made the purchase if the entitlement is missing.
- Restart the console and check the eShop listing again.
The physical copy starts, but eShop does not offer the upgrade
- Confirm that the cartridge is inserted and that it is the Nintendo Switch edition of It Takes Two.
- Start the game itself and select its eShop icon. EA’s instructions do not direct physical owners to buy a separate upgrade listing from another title page.
- Install any pending game update, restart, and try the in-game eShop icon again.
The game still launches the original edition
- Check the title screen rather than relying on the Home-menu icon, because Nintendo says the title screen identifies the installed edition.
- Verify that the Switch 2 Edition download and the separate software update both completed.
- Restart the console.
- If you intentionally selected the original edition to play with a Nintendo Switch friend, return to eShop and select the Switch 2 Edition when that session is over.
Which edition should you use?
Choose the Switch 2 Edition when
- You are playing docked and want EA’s listed 60 FPS presentation instead of the original Switch’s stated 30 FPS comparison.
- You want 1080p native resolution, maximum texture resolution, improved lighting, more complex visual effects, and improved dynamic shadows.
- Your online group includes Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, or other Switch 2 players.
Use the original Switch edition when
- Your online partner is playing the original Nintendo Switch edition and EA’s cross-edition guidance requires you to match it.
- You are waiting for the regional Switch 2 Edition listing or troubleshooting an installation problem.
- You prefer to keep the original compatible version available; Nintendo lists it as supported on Switch 2.
For a physical owner, selecting the edition does not remove the need for the cartridge. For a digital owner, edition changes are managed through the eShop entitlement associated with the Nintendo account. The choice is reversible: EA says both the upgrade and the downgrade are free.
Rank #3
- Experience the classic run and gun action with a pal in 2-player local co-op
- Includes the “Delicious Last Course” expansion filled with new bosses and brand-new character Ms. Chalice
- Includes exclusive “Cuphead Funnies” comic collector cards & vintage-inspired “Cuphead Club Membership”, and a hand-drawn reversible coversheet
Release-date and availability note
EA’s support page identifies October 15, 2026 as the Switch 2 Edition release date and says preorders are unavailable. Because storefront availability can vary by region and can change after an announcement, confirm the listing in your own Nintendo eShop. Do not interpret an absent preorder button before launch as evidence that you are ineligible for the free upgrade.
If you are checking on October 13, 2026, the announced launch date has not yet arrived. After October 15, verify the regional listing, account entitlement, and console software version before concluding that the upgrade is unavailable.
Quick checklist
- Own the Nintendo Switch edition of It Takes Two.
- Use Nintendo eShop directly for a digital copy.
- Launch the game and use its eShop icon for a physical copy.
- Keep the cartridge inserted when the physical entitlement is required.
- Update Switch 2 system software and the game.
- Confirm the virtual game card is loaded for a digital copy.
- Check the title screen for “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.”
- Use the original edition, downloaded free through eShop, when EA’s guidance requires matching a friend on the original Switch edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the It Takes Two Switch 2 upgrade free?
Yes. EA says owners of the Nintendo Switch edition can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for free. The offer does not apply to copies owned on Xbox, PlayStation, or PC.
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Open Nintendo eShop on Switch 2, find the Nintendo Switch game listing, choose the free Switch 2 Edition upgrade, and install any required game update. Make sure the virtual game card is loaded on that console.
How does a cartridge owner upgrade?
Insert the Nintendo Switch cartridge, launch the game, and select its in-game Nintendo eShop icon. Complete the free upgrade there, then keep the cartridge available for ownership checks.
Can the original Switch version still run on Switch 2?
Yes. Nintendo lists the original game as supported on Switch 2 with behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch.
What frame rate and resolution does Switch 2 use?
EA lists 60 FPS in docked mode and 1080p native resolution for the Switch 2 Edition. EA compares that with 30 FPS on the original Switch, but does not give handheld frame-rate or resolution figures.
Can I play online with someone on original Switch?
EA says the Switch 2 player should downgrade to the original Switch edition through Nintendo eShop for that online session. EA says the downgrade is free.
Can Switch 2 players play with Xbox, PlayStation, or PC users?
EA lists online play between the Switch 2 Edition and Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Platform-specific online-service requirements may still apply.
When is the Switch 2 Edition available?
EA lists October 15, 2026 as the release date and says preorders are unavailable. Check your own regional eShop after that date.
The Bottom Line
EA’s upgrade is free for anyone who owns It Takes Two on Nintendo Switch. Digital owners use Nintendo eShop; physical owners launch the game and choose its eShop icon. The Switch 2 Edition lists 60 FPS docked, native 1080p, and visual-quality improvements, while the original edition remains supported on Switch 2. If you play online with someone using the original Switch edition, EA says to download that edition free through eShop for the session.
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