A Nintendo Switch 2 user reports that their physical copy of Donkey Kong Bananza will not launch without a software update, but a follow-up offers a possible explanation for the requirement.
The complaint was shared by X account Pirat_Nation alongside a photograph showing the message: "A software update is required. Update data will be downloaded now." The prompt displays Cancel and Download options, without a visible option to start the game.
Pirat_Nation subsequently attributed an explanation to preservation group DoesItPlay: the console may remember a newer version of a game that was previously installed and require at least that version before allowing play. Under those circumstances, inserting a cartridge containing an older build could trigger an update requirement.
However, the affected player's update history has not been established, so this remains a possible explanation rather than a confirmed diagnosis. DoesItPlay's published testing also shows that Bananza's physical release can work without a download. The group tested the North American Revision 00 cartridge running version 1.0.0, completed both endings, and classified it as playable offline with no download required.
The follow-up separately mentions an issue affecting a small number of first-party Switch 1 cartridges played on Switch 2. That scenario would not explain Bananza, which is a native Switch 2 title. For now, the report highlights a potential obstacle to playing an older cartridge build on a previously updated console.
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Why might a Switch 2 request an update when an older Donkey Kong Bananza cartridge is inserted?
What can Switch 2 owners try if an update prompt blocks Donkey Kong Bananza from launching offline?
How can a Switch 2 owner check Donkey Kong Bananza's update history when diagnosing an offline launch problem?
Which first-party Switch 1 cartridges have reported launch problems on Switch 2?
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It does not establish that Nintendo has introduced a blanket restriction on physical games, and the included screenshot requests a software update rather than explicitly identifying a console firmware update being an issue.
