Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition is one of those versions that exists because of timing. It came out when Mojang was still juggling different editions for different consoles, before everything got folded into Bedrock.
This version was developed by Mojang together with 4J Studios and launched on the Nintendo Switch in 2017. Back then, this was Minecraft on Switch. You bought it on the eShop for $29.99, played it, and didn’t think too hard about versions because life was simpler.
If you bought it during that period, you can still download and play it today. If you didn’t, there’s no way to buy it anymore. It’s been delisted, quietly replaced, and mostly forgotten.
How It Actually Plays
Nintendo Switch Edition is based on the old console-style Minecraft. That means controller-first controls, fixed world sizes, and a more straightforward interface compared to Java or modern Bedrock.
You can play it docked on a TV, in handheld mode, or tabletop mode. Joy-Cons work fine; the Pro Controller works fine; and split-screen multiplayer is supported, even on the Switch’s screen. Somehow.
World sizes are much bigger than the Wii U version, but still limited. You’re not getting infinite terrain here, just a large enough map that most players won’t hit the edge unless they try.
Performance is solid on the original Switch. It even saves the world in the background, which makes it feel more modern than older console editions.
The Big Catch: Updates Stopped
Here’s the part that matters.
Nintendo Switch Edition stopped receiving major updates years ago. No oceans to overhaul. No villager rework. No Nether update. No Caves & Cliffs. All the big changes people associate with Minecraft today simply never arrived here.
The last meaningful update was the World of Color Update. After that, development ended. The game still works, but it’s frozen in time.
This is why Mojang eventually pulled it from the eShop. They didn’t break it. They just moved on.
DLC Situation
Oddly enough, DLC for Nintendo Switch Edition is still available. Skin packs, texture packs, and mash-ups can still be bought if you already own the game.
The Super Mario Mash-up Pack is included, which is honestly one of the cooler Nintendo-exclusive things Minecraft ever did.
That said, a lot of mini-game DLC and bundled passes never came to this version. Mojang straight-up admitted that this was intentional, which tells you everything you need to know.
Bedrock Edition Took Over
In 2018, Minecraft Bedrock Edition replaced Nintendo Switch Edition entirely.
If you already owned the old version, you were allowed to download Bedrock for free. Your worlds and DLC could transfer over, so you weren’t punished for being an early buyer.
Bedrock is the version you can buy today. It gets updates, supports cross-play, connects to servers, and is clearly the future of Minecraft on consoles.
Nintendo Switch Edition is now the legacy option. Still playable, still there, just no longer part of the main conversation.
So Which One Should You Care About?
If you already own Nintendo Switch Edition, you can keep playing it. It’s stable on the original Switch and fine for classic survival or couch multiplayer.
If you’re buying Minecraft on Switch today, Bedrock is the only version that makes sense.
Nintendo Switch Edition isn’t bad. It’s just outdated. It’s Minecraft stuck in a specific era, preserved because Mojang didn’t delete it from your library.
And honestly, that’s kind of fitting for a game about saving worlds forever.
Read More:
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- Best Minecraft Server Hosting: Complete Guide to the Most Reliable Options
