A native, non-backwards-compatible Minecraft may be coming to Nintendo Switch 2, based on a recent ESRB rating update.
For those who have a Nintendo Switch 2, Minecraft may look and perform better on the handheld in the near future. Based on a recent ESRB rating update, Minecraft might be getting a native version on the Nintendo Switch 2. While any Switch 2 user can play the open-world building and survival game with backwards compatibility, this native version would provide a more Switch 2-tailored experience. Mojang Studios has not officially announced a Switch 2 Minecraft version yet.
As spotted on Insider Gaming, the ESRB rating page does not confirm or deny that the Nintendo Switch 2 native Minecraft would have any specific benefits versus the backwards-compatible version. If this native version were to enhance the game experience, chances are Mojang would make some performance, graphics, and stability tweaks. Although there has been a case where a native Switch 2 version was not a good thing. Overwatch dropped on Switch 2 earlier this year, and it still has performance issues.
One of the big questions that arises from these situations is also the cost of selling a native version. We all know that when the Nintendo Switch 2 was first announced, with games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom receiving native versions, there was a $10 upgrade cost. With Minecraft not necessarily being a triple-A title, it is a super-popular IP. So, it would not be surprising to see some kind of $10 cost associated with this Switch 2-dedicated version. Ideally, it could just be a separate download version on the Nintendo Store for those who already own the backwards-compatible version.
At the time of writing, there is no official release date for Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2. However, ESRB ratings are typically assigned late in a game’s development cycle, which means an official announcement could arrive soon. Additionally, Mojang and Nintendo could highlight the game as part of the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase expected to air this month.
Ultimately, the ESRB just rated Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch 2 an E10+ for Everyone 10+ rating, along with the following text:
“Minecraft is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB with Fantasy Violence. Also includes Users Interact and In-Game Purchases. This is a sandbox adventure game in which players explore and mine/harvest cube-shaped materials. From a first-person perspective, players traverse pixilated open-world landscapes, avoid hazards, build structures, and craft potions and weapons (e.g., swords, axes, bows, magic staffs). Though not encouraged, players can engage in violent acts such as lighting animals on fire and harming animals with weapons. Mild explosions are occasionally heard as players use dynamite to fend off creatures and mine the environment.”
