Pokémon Legends: Z-A came out on October 16, 2025 on Nintendo Switch and as a “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition”. The content is strictly the same, but the experience is nothing alike. Resolution, smoothness, price, upgrade, save data: here is everything that changes.
Nintendo Switch
The original version. It also runs on Switch 2, but without the Switch 2 Edition improvements.
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
The version optimized for Switch 2: 60 frames per second and a much sharper image.
Game + Mega Dimension
A physical Switch 2 edition bringing the game and the expansion together on the same cartridge.
The technical comparison
According to the technical analyses published after release (notably Digital Foundry’s), here is how the game performs on both consoles.
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Frame rate | 30 fps targeted, with drops below 30 | Very stable 60 fps |
| Resolution in TV mode | Around 864p, dynamic, no anti-aliasing | Around 800p reconstructed to 1440p by DLSS |
| Resolution in handheld mode | Down to 576p in busy scenes | Around 630p reconstructed to 1080p |
| Shadows and lighting | Low-resolution shadows | Finer shadows, improved ambient occlusion |
| Water reflections | Basic | Screen-space reflections on the canal and fountains |
| Textures | Standard | More detailed |
| Distant animations | Slowed down in the distance | Slowed down in the distance (on both versions) |
| Pop-in | Visible | Reduced but still present |
| Download size | 4.1 GB | 7.7 GB |
What doesn’t change
- The content is identical: same story, same Pokémon, same missions, same expansion.
- Players on both versions can trade and battle together, both locally and online.
- Pokémon HOME has been compatible with both versions since April 2, 2026.
- The Mega Dimension expansion (€29.99) works on both versions.
Moving from Switch to Switch 2
Do you have the Switch version and a Switch 2? The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack, sold for €9.99 on the Nintendo eShop, unlocks all the improvements without buying the game again. Your save data is kept: you pick up your game right where you left off, at 60 frames per second.
Prices at a glance
| Recommended price | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch) | €59.99 | Also runs on Switch 2 |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | €69.99 | 60 fps, sharper image |
| Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack | €9.99 | For owners of the Switch version |
| Mega Dimension expansion | €29.99 | For both versions |
| Physical Switch 2 edition with Mega Dimension | Releases October 29, 2026 | With 100 Ultra Balls as a bonus |
