We’re less than a week away from the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, and it feels like time has flown by since its reveal. As we get closer to the full launch of the system, more and more developers have revealed their plans to support upgrades for their titles from Switch to Switch 2, such as Pokémon’s upcoming free updates to improve Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Of the whole launch line-up though, there’s one developer that looks to be testing out a particularly greedy move – SEGA.
No, we’re not talking about the fact that all of their physical releases are the controversial Game-Key Cards, despite them being a big enough company to pay for the full price of a Switch cartridge. The real issue here is how they’ve handled the upcoming release of Sonic X Shadow Generations on the Switch 2.
SEGA Does What Nintendon’t
Sonic X Shadow Generations will be available on day one when the Switch 2 releases on June 5. It originally launched back in October of 2024, but the hardware power of the Switch 2 supports an improved release, with better quality visuals and frame rates. So what’s the issue? SEGA wants players to pay the full price for the game again. Even if they already own it for the original Switch, even if they paid full price for the game digitally this year, you must still pay for the entire game again to upgrade to a Switch 2 version.
This is a problem, and it’s one that’s only gotten worse as time has passed since its announcement. Sonic X Shadow Generations is not a different game on Switch 2 – it has no new added features, it comes with no bonus content like the Zelda Switch 2 Editions do – it just upgrades the frame rate and resolution of the game so it looks nicer. As far as we can tell, no additional work has been done to any in-game assets in any way.
Showing SEGA How It’s Done
This is a really slimy move from SEGA, because Nintendo has proven both with their first-party and third-party releases that the Switch 2 is not a difficult system to provide upgrades of existing games for. There are two main paths that developers are choosing, and it’s really difficult to see why SEGA hasn’t opted into either. The first is the Switch 2 Edition route, where the upgrades of Switch games to take advantage of the Switch 2’s power is sold with an Upgrade Pack. Purchasing the Upgrade Pack bumps your copy of the game up to the Switch 2 version of the game at a minimal cost, usually around $10.
For some developers, this has proved troublesome. In this instance though, they’ve decided to offer the new version of the game at a discounted price for those who already own the first version from the original Switch. An example here would be Hogwarts Legacy. Those who already own the adventure in and around Hogwarts on the original Switch are able to purchase the new Switch 2 version of the game at a heavily discounted price, given they already bought the game. This enables them to upgrade to the Switch 2’s improved version, without being expected to pay for the entire game again that they already bought once.
Gotta sell fast!
It’s disappointing to see SEGA gate-off the Switch 2 version of Sonic X Shadow Generations, especially when the game performed well both critically and commercially. With great reviews and over 2 million copies sold globally, this is a hit game that many already bought and enjoyed on the original Switch. It feels like SEGA is intentionally misusing Sonic X Shadow Generations as a Switch 2 launch title to profit off the hype of the console, at the complete expense of their existing fanbase.
Backlash about the pricing has been steadily rising in the Sonic fandom since the announcement there will be no option to upgrade Sonic X Shadow Generations to the Switch 2 version. In my experience though, it reached a peak over the past week, as Level-5 announced their massively popular Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time will cost only $2.59 to upgrade to the Switch 2 version. It offers the same improvements as Sonic X Shadow Generations does, enhanced graphics and frame rates along with better loading times, but to honor the fans that already bought it they’re charging only a tiny cost to upgrade.
It feels like it’s too late for SEGA to change their pricing strategy with Sonic X Shadow Generations on the Switch 2. They already heard the initial backlash and didn’t change their approach, so it seems unlikely they would now, especially so close to launch. It’ll probably sell well, as one of the only platformer offerings available in the Switch 2’s launch line-up, it’s just a shame it had to come at the expense of pricing out those who already supported SEGA with the game and paid the price with the original Switch.
Do you agree with our thoughts on the Sonic X Shadow Generations Switch 2 version controversy, or do you think SEGA is justified in charging players for the game again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more breaking gaming news and opinions just like this one.
I honestly don’t agree sure it would be nice if they had an upgrade but it’s not a requirement it’s a commodity