What is going on with Square Enix's Switch 1 and Switch 2 game upgrades for Dragon Quest, Octopath, and more?

Square Enix has been one of the better Nintendo Swirch 2 supporters across multiple games announced for the system. The publisher also released Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster as an exclusive for launch. Aside from that, we recently had Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles launch for both Switch and Switch 2 with Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven getting its own upgraded version for Switch 2. The next release from Square Enix on both Switch systems is Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. On paper, this should all be good news with many games arriving for both Switch 1 and Switch 2, but the cross generation period and releases are being handled quite poorly in the case of some titles.

With the Switch and Switch 2, nothing is consistent with Square Enix releases so far. Some games allow save transfer without an upgrade path while others offer neither. This got me to bringing together all the information about every Switch 1 and Switch 2 cross generation release in single place covering what features are included in which game, and also speculate on why I think the decisions to skip or include specific features were made. I will also cover what game is available physically, but the focus of this article is to help you keep track of what games let you upgrade and bring your save data cross generations on Switch and Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 cross generation release terminology

Before getting into the games, I need to clarify a few terms used for cross generation Switch and Switch 2 games across digital storefronts, retail, and more. 

• Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: If a game is listed as a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, it includes the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 native (upgraded) releases in a single purchase physically or digitally. If you own say The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, you can download it and play the Switch 1 version on your Switch or the upgraded Switch 2 version on your Switch 2. If you own it physically, it will load up the correct version depending on the console you insert the cartridge into. 
• Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games can be upgraded from the Switch native release to the Switch 2 version by purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack. These can be free like with Hades II or paid like with Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

• Game Key Card release: A Game Key Card is a Switch 2 cartridge that only contains the license for a game. It will download the game data as an update when you insert the cartridge into a Nintendo Switch 2 system and try to launch the game. This reportedly costs a lot less to manufacture compared to full cartridges and is a good way for publishers to have retail presence for a game on Nintendo Switch 2. The advantage for users is the ability to trade it in or resell and also the fact that retail releases usually have better pricing than digital.
• Nintendo Switch 2 physical cartridge: A proper physical release on Nintendo Switch 2 is available as a red game card (as some refer to it as) with the full ROM on the cartridge. 

One more thing I want to note is that Deltarune proved that you can have save data carrying over from Switch to Switch 2 and also grant a free upgrade (or basically granting the other version free on the eShop when you buy either Switch or Switch 2 digitally) so there isn't a hard restriction on this. The Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma release below is a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition while Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition is not a cross generation release. Both games include the ROM on cartridge as opposed to titles like Yakuza 0 Director's Cut (which is a Game Key Card)

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake on Switch and Switch 2

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake's official FAQ confirms that there is no upgrade path and no save data transfer from the Switch 1 to Switch 2 version. This decision was likely made because Square Enix wanted retail presence for the Switch 2 version of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, but did not want to release a full cartridge Switch 2 Edition which would cost a lot more.

It is worth noting that the save data bonus for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Switch 1 release will work in the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Switch 2 version. This is because there is no native Switch 2 version of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. 

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on Switch and Switch 2

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake's Switch version got a free Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility update with graphical improvements letting you prioritize performance or graphics when playing the Switch version on Switch 2. This is still a Nintendo Switch release, but it runs with enhanced backward compatibility essentially making it a proper Switch 2 game in all but name.

This is like the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet patch. Since this is still a native Switch 1 game that got a big update (with an excellent upgrade over the Switch 1 version), your save data works normally between consoles and generations. This was also a free patch.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven on Switch and Switch 2

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven got a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition paid upgrade recently giving it a massive technical upgrade over the Nintendo Switch version. This is similar to how the upgrade is handled for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom where the "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" branding means it is an official cross generation title that you can play on Switch or Switch 2 with many improvements. Save data is compatible between both versions as well. I'm not sure what warranted Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven get a paid upgrade while Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was given a free patch, but here we are.

The Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a fantastic experience and absolutely worth buying the upgrade for if you own the original. It is unfortunate that there is no physical Switch 2 release, but this would require a full cartridge release which is expensive to manufacture.

Octopath Traveler 0 on Switch and Switch 2 

With Octopath Traveler 0, Square Enix's eShop pre-order page confirmed that there is no upgrade path from the Switch 1 to Switch 2 release, save data cannot be transferred from the Switch 2 version to the Switch 1 version, but you can bring the Switch 1 version save data into the Switch 2 version. I'm a bit confused as to why this game offers save transfer but not the upcoming Dragon Quest releases, but here we are.

It is likely that Octopath Traveler 0 does not offer an upgrade since it would cost more to manufacture the proper physical Switch 2 release and Square Enix couldn't do that given the game's budget price and how much it costs to manufacture a full ROM cartridge for Switch 2 going by what Marvelous USA CEO Ken Berry told me.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined on Switch and Switch 2

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined's official FAQ confirms that there is no upgrade path and no save data transfer from Switch 1 and Switch 2. This decision was likely made for the same reason Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake doesn't allow an upgrade with how Nintendo Switch 2 Editions and retail releases work. I imagine Square Enix wanted to have retail presence for Switch 2 for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, but did not want to pay for a full cartridge physical Switch 2 Edition. It is a shame that save data cannot be brought over though.

The Dragon Quest VII Reimagined physical release right now is a proper cartridge for Switch, but a Game Key Card for Switch 2. While Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake's Switch 1 save data can be detected in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake's Switch 2 version for the bonus, Square Enix will not allow you to use the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Switch 1 save data for the bonus in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined's Switch 2 version.

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles on Switch and Switch 2 

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles on Switch is available physically (proper Switch 1 cartridge) and digitally. Both versions can be upgraded to the Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for free through the eShop by purchasing the Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles - NIntendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack. With this, save data transfers between generations, but there is no physical release for the Switch 2 version.

This tells me Square Enix either didn't think it was worth having a proper retail release for Switch 2 (it is a code-in-box release in Japan), or that this Nintendo Switch 2 version was added closer to launch where it wouldn't have had enough time to do a retail release in any form beyond a code-in-box for Japan.

To summarize all the information and with my speculation about the reasoning for how physical releases are handled, I've put together the table below to showcase what Square Enix cross generation game offers an upgrade, how the upgrade is handled, whether save transfer is possible, and what the status is for the physical release. 

*Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is still treated as a Switch 1 game despite the huge compatibility update with visual and performance upgrades. I included it here only to show how inconsistent Square Enix is about its different games.

Hopefully this helped you if you were confused about what Square Enix Switch and Switch 2 games allow upgrading, transferring save data, and also potentially why they are handled like that right now. It would be great if future releases either move to offering proper physical releases or Square Enix is better about at least offering upgrades and transferring saves over. I will be updating this if any new Square Enix Switch and Switch 2 cross generation games are announced.