"Pikmin 3 Deluxe" has received a free update for Nintendo Switch 2. The patch improves the game's visuals and adds new multiplayer options.
Players who already own the game do not need to buy another copy. The update is available at no additional cost.
'Pikmin 3 Deluxe' Gets Switch 2 Improvements
Nintendo first released "Pikmin 3 Deluxe" for Nintendo Switch in October 2020. The game is an expanded version of Pikmin 3, which originally launched on Wii U in 2013.
The Deluxe release included several additions. It brought previously released downloadable content to the game. It also added new story material through a prologue and an epilogue.
Now, the strategy adventure has been updated for Nintendo's newer console.
The biggest change is improved image quality. The update optimizes "Pikmin 3 Deluxe" for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs.
This should make the game's colorful environments look cleaner and sharper. The small Pikmin characters should also benefit from the visual upgrade.
The update does not require players to purchase a separate Switch 2 edition. Existing owners can access the improvements for free.
GameShare Expands 'Pikmin 3 Deluxe' Multiplayer
The free update also adds support for GameShare.
This feature gives players another way to enjoy the game's competitive multiplayer. Two players can now play Bingo Battle together on separate devices through GameShare.
GameShare can also work alongside GameChat for online play. This provides an additional option for friends who want to compete without using the game's traditional multiplayer setup.
Bingo Battle is a different experience from the main adventure. Instead of simply progressing through the story, players compete against each other while trying to complete their objectives.
The new GameShare support could make that mode easier to enjoy with friends.
Another Free Upgrade for Nintendo Switch 2
"Pikmin 3 Deluxe" is now the 18th first-party Nintendo Switch game to receive a free Nintendo Switch 2 update, according to VGC.
The upgrades vary from one game to another. Some focus on resolution or frame-rate improvements. Others add features designed specifically for Nintendo Switch 2.
Several Nintendo titles have already received more specialized upgrades.
"Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2" and "Game Builder Garage," for example, added support for the Switch 2 mouse feature. "Super Mario Odyssey" and "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom" received HDR support.
Nintendo also maintains a list of games that have received free updates for the newer console.
A Reason to Return to 'Pikmin 3 Deluxe'
The new update does not completely change "Pikmin 3 Deluxe." It does, however, make the game more attractive to Nintendo Switch 2 owners.
Sharper visuals can improve the experience on larger displays. GameShare also gives the competitive Bingo Battle mode another multiplayer option.
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