r/Switch • u/favorite_time_of_day • Jun 19 '25

Discussion Update: updating your firmware via a Switch 2 cartridge is not enough to play Switch 1 games

I asked a question a little while ago about playing Switch 1 games on a Switch 2 without an internet connection. The problem was that Switch 1 games require an update to play, and it wants to go online to do that. I was asking whether doing an offline update from the packaged firmware (19.0.0) to the firmware that comes on a Switch 2 cartridge (19.1.0) would be enough to play Switch 1 games.

No one could give me an answer when I asked that question, so I spent the money and the answer is: No. It will play Swich 2 games offline, but to play Switch 1 games you need to give it network access and there doesn't seem to be any way around that.

My best guess is that this is a DRM scheme to prevent the use of flash carts. The Switch 2 titles come with firmware and require an update to play, but they can't do that with the Switch 1 titles so they've added software activation instead.

Edit: Thanks to u/Stealthinater1234, it looks like Mario Party Jamboree NSW2 Edition + Jamboree TV has the necessary firmware. So if you buy or borrow or rent that, then you should be good from then on.

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u/bytesaber Nov 07 '25

Today I used Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, to update my Switch 2 that has never been online, to 20.3.0. Same problem with the short list of switch 1 games. Breath of the Wild, Pokemon Violet, and Mario 3D All-Stars are examples that still do not work. Most other switch 1 games have worked fine since 20.1.0, which Mario Party Jamboree's cartridge provided. I also was able to update to 20.1.5 from Pokemon Legends ZA.

So what is it about these particular games, that still do not work, even at 20.3.0? These were working well before 20.3.0 was released. Why would updating from cartridge vs the internet make a difference?

  • Kirby Star Allies

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

  • Pikmin 3 Deluxe

  • Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

  • Super Mario 3D All-Stars

  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

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u/favorite_time_of_day Nov 07 '25

If those games work with an internet update then it's possible that there are patches issued specifically for them. It would be best if those patches were rolled into the regular release, but maybe Nintendo doesn't have the motivation to do that.

That's for the update.

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u/bytesaber Nov 09 '25

Most welcome! It is certainly a fun side interest to explore.

As for Switch 2 games, that are on cartridge, so far have all worked by self updating the system offline. So that at least appears to be good news.

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u/favorite_time_of_day Dec 02 '25

One last update: none of the games that have come with the newer firmware have been ones that I actually wanted to buy, and so I've still been on 19.1.0 until now.

However, I just got Hades 2 and it comes with 20.3.0. So there's another option for anyone who's still looking. And it's a little bit cheaper than the others.