When buying Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games at retail, customers won’t need any further downloads, at least if the games have been published by Nintendo. The same may not necessarily be true for third-party publishers, though. The lingering question was finally answered by a company spokesperson in a statement to Vooks.net:

The physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e., they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code). Alternatively, some publishers may release Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging, with no game card.

So far, the following games will allow customers to upgrade:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ($69.99 or $9.99 if you already own the original)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ($79.99 or $9.99 if you already own the original)
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (currently unknown price)
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 + Star-Crossed World ($79.99 or $9.99 if you already own the original)
• Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV ($79.99 or $9.99 if you already own the original)
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (third-party; $69.99 or $9.99 if you already own the original)
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A (currently unknown price)

However, as many had assumed, Nintendo also confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will not include that game’s Expansion Pass. Following the launch, Nintendo released two DLCs: The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad. It is presently unclear, although likely, if players will be able to purchase them separately on the new console.