Mojang Studios confirmed during June 2026's Nintendo Direct that Minecraft is finally getting a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version, ending the console's reliance on backward compatibility with the original Switch release.

The new version is native to Nintendo's latest hardware and specifically optimized for Switch 2. It will also support Vibrant Visuals, which Mojang has described as the game's biggest graphical update yet.

Initially, the only way for players to enjoy Minecraft on the console was to use the Switch edition. With the native release, players will gain access to enhanced features that fully utilize the Switch 2's hardware.

Vibrant Visuals launched in June 2025 as part of the Chase the Skies update for Bedrock Edition on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and mobile devices.

With the update, Minecraft's graphics were overhauled across supported platforms, adding directional lighting, volumetric fog, dynamic shadows, enhanced water reflections, and improved environmental lighting.

Nintendo-exclusive content like the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will also receive enhanced visuals through the same update. So, players will be able to visit Peach's Castle or Delfino Plaza with completely new visuals.

Players will also be able to transfer save data from the original Switch edition to the Switch 2 version of Minecraft. Cross-platform multiplayer support will also continue. However, the exact release date is yet to be announced.

Pricing remains another unanswered question. There is no clarification from Mojang or Nintendo on whether existing Switch owners will receive a free or paid upgrade or if they will have to buy the game again entirely.

Minecraft was not the only major third-party game announced for Nintendo Switch 2 during the June 2026 Direct.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Shows Nintendo's Push Toward Native Third-Party Support

Square Enix took the stage and revealed Kingdom Hearts 4 for Switch 2, along with PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions.

The company also announced native Switch 2 versions of previous Kingdom Hearts installments. Previously, those games relied on cloud versions on the original Switch, but they will now run directly on the hardware.

Alongside Minecraft's native Switch 2 release, the Kingdom Hearts announcements highlight a broader shift toward native third-party releases, reducing reliance on cloud streaming and backward compatibility solutions.

Read more at Gaming Community by Max Level!

Written by

Nilendu Brahma

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav