Some of the games getting these updates are The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (version 1.4.0), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (version 1.8.0), Pikmin 3 Deluxe (version 1.1.2), Super Mario Bros. Wonder (version 1.0.2), Kirby’s Dream Buffet (version 1.0.0a), Kirby Star Allies (version 4.0.0a), Super Mario 3D All-Stars (version 1.1.2), Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (version 2.2.1), Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (version 1.2.0), and ARMS (version 5.51), among others.

All of these updates revolve around giving these games improved performance for the new console over how they ran on the original Switch. Along with performance boosts, quite a few games are also getting access to new features, including GameShare and even support for HDR displays.

The Switch 2 will be hitting store shelves on June 5.

Patch notes for Nintendo Switch games to run on Switch 2:

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, the voice content will use the language you select in the in-game options.
• Added support for the Sidon, Tulin, Yunobo, and Riju amiibo.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, the voice content will use the language you select in the in-game options.
• Added support for the Sidon, Tulin, Yunobo, and Riju amiibo.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Version 1.8.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, if you select the Match System Settings option in the game, the voice content will use English.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added support for the Portuguese (Brazil) system language setting.
• Because Portuguese is not a supported voice language, if you select the Match System Settings option in the game, the voice content will use English.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe – Version 1.1.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Partially alleviated an issue that occurs when playing on Nintendo Switch 2 where the entire screen flickers during some scenes in the game, such as when a day starts and ends.
• We will be releasing an update in the near feature to fix this completely.
• Note: An update addressing the problem above has not been distributed for “Pikmin 3 Deluxe Demo ver.” However, we plan to perform the same fix as the full game in a future update.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Version 1.0.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.

Kirby’s Dream Buffet – Version 1.0.0a

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The version number in the lower right of the software title screen is still Ver. 1.0.0. The version number displayed in the software menu on the HOME Screen will display 1.0.0a if the update is applied.

Kirby Star Allies – Version 4.0.0a

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The version number in the lower right of the software title screen is still Ver. 4.0.0. The version number displayed in the software menu on the HOME Screen will display 4.0.0a if the update is applied.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars – Version 1.1.2

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.
• Note: The software update is required to play on Nintendo Switch 2.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Version 2.2.1

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.

ARMS – Version 5.51

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Frame rate: Optimized for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even when playing with 3 or more players). Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• *Compatible with Ver. 5.4.1 for “local communication” and “LAN play”. Not compatible with Ver. 5.4.0 or earlier for “local communication” and “LAN play”. Please be aware of the versions of each other’s update data.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added support for GameShare.
• Party Mode content can be played with up to 4 users.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “GameShare” on the mode selection screen after launching the software. They can then choose to use GameShare with Local Users or with GameChat members.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• Two people can play all the courses, and each person can have their own unique display that is easier to see.
• The person sharing can press the – button on the title screen or course select screen or go to “Partner Adventure” in the pause menu and select “GameShare + Local Play” or “GameShare + GameChat.”

Club House Games: 51 Worldwide Classics – Version 2.0.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Added Korean as a supported language.
• Added support for GameShare:
• You can play 34 kinds of games with up to 4 players.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “GameShare” from the main menu, then “Via GameChat” or “Play With Local Users”.
  The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

General

• Added Korean as a supported language.
• Several other adjustments and revisions have been made to improve the gameplay experience.
• Note: Update data with the above content will also be distributed for the demo “Clubhouse Games: Guest Pass” as Ver. 2.0.0d.

Game Builder Garage – Version 1.1.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Added support for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. Up to 8 Joy-Con 2 can be used. (As up to now, 1 USB mouse can be used, as well.)
• As a result of improved processing speed, there may be some changes in behavior in games that were made previously on Nintendo Switch.
• Note: An update is also available for the Game Builder Garage Demo version to support the content above (Ver. 1.1.0).

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – Version 1.2.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• Frame rate: Optimized for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2 (including Bowser’s Fury).
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness (Bowser’s Fury only). Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• You can play “Super Mario 3D World” with up to four people. Press R on the course select screen for “Local/Online,” and then choose “GameShare + Local Users” or “GameShare + GameChat.”
• In “Bowser’s Fury,” two players can play, with one controlling Mario while the other controls Bowser Jr. Once you can control Mario, press the + button to open “Menu,” and then choose “Local/Online,” and then choose “GameShare + Local Users” or “GameShare + GameChat.”
• Note: Does have local user compatibility with Ver. 1.1.0. Does not have local user compatibility with Ver. 1.0.0. Please be careful of the update version on each player’s system.

Super Mario Odyssey – Version 1.4.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) support for improved image contrast and brightness. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.
• Added support for GameShare.
• Two players can play, with one controlling Mario while the other controls Cappy.
• The user who will host the GameShare session should select “Resume 2P” on the title screen or “Two Players” on the Pause menu, then select “GameShare + Local Play” or “GameShare + GameChat”.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening – Version 1.1.0

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

General

• Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Note: HDR-compatible display required when playing in TV mode.

Owlboy

D-Pad Studio’s Owlboy first released in 2016 following years and years of development. Its charming art-style and believable characterization meshed well with the quasi-Metroidvania platforming it had to offer. Playing as Otis and flying through the skies to battle pirates and learn the truth about the world may not have been revolutionary but it’s utterly amazing adventure all the same.

Nintendo has been providing a pretty decent amount of content for Kirby Star Allies, which launched earlier this year. In fact, it recently released update 4.0, which added a new mode, Heroes in Another Dimension, and four new Dream Friends. The Ultimate Choice mode also receives a new hardest difficulty.

Heroes in Another Dimension is available after finishing Story mode, and the new Dream Friends include Magolor, Taranza, Susie, and the Three Mage-Sisters. Some issues have also been fixed, and there are new celebration pictures to complete via Picture Piece collection. Suffice it to say that if you pick up the game now, there’s quite a lot to experience.

Sadly, it seems this will be the last content update for the game. In a recent blog post, director Shinya Kumazaki said that HAL Laboratory was moving on from the project. The studio hasn’t outlined what it has planned next, but here’s hoping that it gets the same amount of support that Kirby Star Allies (and numerous other Switch games) has received.

While there’s a definite case to be made for Kirby: Star Allies to have been a bit disappointing at its launch earlier this year, Nintendo and HAL Laboratory have continued to add to the title since with great post launch support, which continues to this day. And the latest trailer for the game, which you can see for yourself below, is an introduction to the newest character who will be added to the game as part of this ongoing support.

Said character is Taranza, who is a brand new Dream Friend. He will be added to the game alongside Magolor and Susie. He seems to have cool ranged and area of effect attacks, including throwing a pink puffball (no, not that one) to knock enemies out of the way. These abilities of his are shown in the trailer.

Taranza will be added to the game, alongside Susie and Magolor, on November 30, via a free update. Kirby: Star Allies is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo’s DLC strategy with the Switch has actually been very interesting. Most titles, such as Splatoon 2, Mario Tennis Aces, and ARMS, have received a bevy of free updates. Games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokken Tournament DX, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and, yes, Splatoon 2 as well, have also received paid expansions.

The company doesn’t intend on stopping with that strategy either. Speaking to investors in a financial call on the heels of their latest financial release, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa stated that the company plans on releasing more DLC and content for its existing big games, citing it as a way to continue to achieve growth and player engagement.

“We need continuous growth. We must keep releasing new software,” he said (reported by Bloomberg Tech reporter Yuji Nakamura—you can see his transcription below). “That includes DLC and other content for big titles that are already out.”

As you can see, he doesn’t specify which games will receive content, but I think we can make some guesses. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 apparently got its final bit of content with Torna- The Golden Country, so we can rule that one out. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild also received its final post launch content with The Champion’s Ballad, so presumably that one is done, too.

Two prominent Switch games that haven’t received any major paid expansions are Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It is entirely possible those will receive something new—then again, for all I know, Nintendo just throws a curveball, and announces another major expansion for Breath of the Wild or something.

Full DLC quote: "We need continuous growth. We must keep releasing new software. That includes DLCs and other contents for big titles that are already out. And more focus on online play. Lastly, more genres and diverse games to draw in people who don't currently play on Switch."

— Yuji Nakamura (@ynakamura56) October 30, 2018

Amid other companies sharing their financial results today, Nintendo revealed updated sales numbers for its top-selling Switch titles. These are sales as of September 30th, 2018, so the actual numbers till now may be higher. Regardless, Super Mario Odyssey leads the pack, with 12.17 million units sold. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is in second place with 11.71 million units sold.

However, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is arguably most worthy of note, having received massive critical acclaim for its open world mechanics and design. It was also the flagship title for the Switch when it first launched, prompting many a fan to put down money for the new console. As it turns out, this paid off handsomely for Nintendo in the long run, with the game now having sold 10.28 million units on the Switch.

Other titles include Splatoon 2 selling 7.47 million units, 1-2 Switch selling 2.64 million units, and Mario Tennis Aces hitting 2.16 million units sold. ARMS has managed to sell 2.10 million units, followed by Kirby Star Allies at 2.10 million as well. Interestingly, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has sold 1.67 million units, which bodes well for other Wii U titles that have been ported over to the Switch. Finally, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 sits at 1.53 million units sold.

As part of Nintendo’s quarterly financial report, the company has shared updated sales numbers for all of its major first party software (honestly, it is so good to see a company that actually shares proper unit sales numbers). In addition to Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Tennis Aces, and Nintendo Labo, the numbers for which we have already reported, they have also shared updated stats on their other major software.

So, here we go. ARMS, Nintendo’s new 3D fighter that they launched last year for Switch, has sold 2.01 million units, a respectable result for a new fighting game IP at a time when even Street Fighter and Tekken struggle to breach that mark. Kirby: Star Allies is at 1.89 million units, while Xenoblade Chronicles 2 continues to exhibit extraordinarily strong legs for a JRPG, and hits 1.42 million units, becoming Monolith Soft’s most successful game ever.

Going for the higher selling software, Splatoon 2 is at 6.76 million units sold, the Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild hits 9.32 million units (in addition to the 1.5 million units the Wii U version has sold), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is at a staggering 10.35 million units (in addition to the 8.42 million units it already sold on Wii U), while Super Mario Odyssey is at 11.17 million units.

Those are fantastic numbers all around for Nintendo software, and just reinforce the fact that the Switch is a software beast, and that Nintendo software alone can often be enough to keep it selling.

With 2018 already half complete, Japanese publication Famitsu decided to compile the 100 best-selling titles of the year. Available in its latest issue, the results are as you’d expect with the top 10 full of Nintendo Switch titles.

However, the number one selling game in Japan thus far is Monster Hunter World on the PlayStation 4. It’s sold 1,949,592 copies since launch with worldwide sales, crossing 8 million units in total. Splatoon 2 is in second place with 631,298 units sold this year, and 2,383,394 lifetime sales.

Kirby Star Allies surprisingly is in third place with 536,881 units sold. Some of the bigger Switch titles like Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have sold 389,680 units and 292,459 units respectively this year.

Recently, Capcom stock fell by 11.3 percent as Merrill Lynch downgraded it to “underperform” with Monster Hunter World sales being cited as a “risk”. This was following the game’s PC release date announcement, and it’s still receiving plenty of support regardless. The Summer Twilight Festival is currently ongoing while the Behemoth update (in collaboration with Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn) is slated for August 1st. The PC version releases on August 9th via Steam.

1. [PS4] Monster Hunter: World (Capcom) {2018.01.26} (¥8.980) – 1,949,592 units
2. [NSW] Splatoon 2 (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 631,298 units / 2,383,394 units
3. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 536,881 units
4. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 450,206 units / 1,553,950 units
5. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo) {2017.10.27} (¥5.980) – 389,680 units / 1,713,960 units
6. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 292,459 units / 980,503 units
7. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 240,135 units / 2,243,742 units
8. [PS4] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2018 (Konami) {2018.04.26} (¥7.980) – 217,178 units
9. [NSW] Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Nintendo) {2018.01.18} (¥5.980) – 200,131
10. [NSW] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo) {2018.05.03} (¥5.980) – 179,179

Nintendo and HAL Laboratories’ Kirby: Star Allies, the newest game in their long running franchise of platformers starring the adorably puffy and pink mascot, has managed to sell 1.26 million units worldwide in just 15 days. Nintendo confirmed the number in their newest financial report, which tracked data till March 31, 2018- just 15 days after the game’s March 16 release date.

This, much like the success of Pokken and Fire Emblem Warriors, seems to demonstrate the voracious appetite that Switch owners have. Kirby is a fine game, if a little average, but the pace it has sold at far exceeds its merits- which indicates Switch owners want quality software. Third parties are really missing out by not being on the Switch right now (except for the few, such as Bethesda and Ubisoft, who were ready for Nintendo’s new hybrid).

Kirby: Star Allies is available now exclusively on the Nintendo Switch. If you want to see whether or not the game is up your alley, make sure to check out our review for it.

The NPD numbers for the month of March are out, and while everyone did well all around, Kirby: Star Allies, the first major Nintendo Switch release of the year so far, managed to set a special record of its own last month- it saw a series best debut, with 90% more in revenue than the previous record holder for the series, Nightmare in Dreamland. Incidentally, rough calculations seem to indicate this puts Kirby‘s sales at about 250,000 units last month (though, this is a rough number and includes no digital sales, so don’t take this at face value).

Kirby, then, becomes the latest Nintendo franchise to have benefitted from tremendous growth on the Nintendo Switch- other Nintendo franchises to have done so include The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, Splatoon, Pokken, Super Mario, and Xenoblade. On the whole, this bodes extremely well for Smash Bros., Pokemon, and Fire Emblem when they launch later this year on the Switch (well, Pokemon isn’t strictly confirmed for a 2018 release yet).

Kirby: Star Allies is available now exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.