Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Hits Switch 2 on September 24, But Switch Owners Have to Pay Again

Sega and Lizardcube are bringing Shinobi: Art of Vengeance to Switch 2 on September 24, 2026. The original launched last August across basically everything—Switch, PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, PC—and settled into a solid 87 on Metacritic. The Switch 2 port starts at $29.99 for the standard digital edition, $39.99 for the Deluxe (£34.99 if you're in the UK). For a game that nailed hand-drawn animation, it's worth asking what this port actually brings to the table.

What the Switch 2 Version Actually Adds

The main selling point is 1080p in handheld mode. That's it. Sega's official statement mentions the date, the resolution bump, and the pricing—and then stops. The reason this matters: the original Switch version was rough on the artwork. Hand-drawn animation at lower resolution is a crime against the entire point of hand-drawn animation. So this isn't an enhancement so much as it's Sega correcting what shouldn't have shipped that way to begin with.

The Deluxe Edition and What It Includes

The Digital Deluxe Edition ($39.99) throws in the Sega Villains Stage DLC—you know, the one where Joe Musashi fights Dr. Eggman, Goro Majima, and Death Adder—plus a digital artbook, soundtrack, a Ghost Outfit, a Medic Lite Amulet, and 2,000 in-game gold. There's also a physical Deluxe for Switch 2 and PS5, but here's the catch: the Switch 2 physical version is a game-key card, not an actual cartridge. If you care about that distinction, you're not alone.

No Upgrade Path for Switch Owners

And this is where it gets annoying. There is no upgrade path. If you bought Shinobi on Switch, you cannot pay a reduced price to get it on Switch 2. You pay full price again. Sega has precedent for this both ways—they did offer a $10 upgrade path for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, but apparently that courtesy doesn't apply here. They haven't explained why the two games are treated differently, and that silence is the worst part.

This is a frustrating move for a game that actually deserved its success. Art of Vengeance landed an 87, and it earned it. Video Games Chronicle gave it five stars, comparing Lizardcube's work here to what they nailed with Streets of Rage 4. The Shinobi franchise had genuine momentum, real goodwill after years of nothing. Now Sega is asking those same players to pay full price again—roughly thirteen months later—for a resolution fix and a piece of DLC they could have bought separately anyway. It's a tough ask. Pre-orders are live on the Nintendo eShop if you want to take them up on it.