Ubisoft is officially bringing Far Cry 3: Classic Edition and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition to the Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2027. Announced during the port-heavy September 2026 Nintendo Direct, the dual release marks the franchise's first appearance on a Nintendo console in nearly two decades. The move ends a long drought for the series on Nintendo hardware, which began and ended with the critically panned motion-controlled spin-off Far Cry Vengeance on the Nintendo Wii in 2007.
While a specific launch day remains undisclosed, Ubisoft has not confirmed whether the two first-person shooters will be bundled together or released separately. Pricing for the Switch 2 versions is also unconfirmed, though the PlayStation 4 versions of Far Cry 3: Classic Edition and Blood Dragon currently retail for $29.99 and $14.99, respectively. Following the brief presentation, Ubisoft acknowledged the barren announcement in a follow-up post, promising future updates regarding technical specifications, physical edition availability, and the potential for more franchise ports on the new console.
A Legacy of Remasters and Patches
Approaching their 14th anniversaries, both titles carry significant weight in Ubisoft's catalog. Far Cry 3 originally launched in 2012, earning widespread acclaim for its open-world design, RPG mechanics, and the iconic villain Vaas. Its success established a template that heavily influenced Ubisoft's subsequent open-world titles. Blood Dragon followed in 2013 as a highly successful standalone expansion, leaning heavily into 1980s pop culture and starring The Terminator actor Michael Biehn.
The versions heading to the Switch 2 are based on previous remasters. The Far Cry 3 remaster debuted in 2018, while the Blood Dragon remaster was included in the Far Cry 6 season pass in 2022. Both initial remaster launches faced criticism for lacking substantial upgrades. However, Ubisoft recently addressed some of these technical shortcomings in January by releasing patches that boosted frame rates for modern PlayStation and Xbox consoles, a standard practice the publisher has adopted for its last-gen catalog.
The Low-Risk Strategy for Switch 2
Bringing a 14-year-old game to a brand-new console is a calculated, low-stakes financial maneuver for Ubisoft. After a turbulent period marked by delays, cancellations, and disappointing launches, the publisher is leveraging established nostalgia to secure an easy win. By deploying Far Cry 3 first, Ubisoft can effectively test the Switch 2's player base and gauge the actual market appetite for mature, first-person shooters on the platform.
If these classic editions perform well at a likely $15 to $30 price point, it paves the way for heavier, more resource-intensive ports like Far Cry 6 or future mainline installments. Conversely, if the ports fail to gain traction, the financial blow of porting older architecture is minimal compared to developing a bespoke Switch 2 title. This release serves as a vital litmus test for third-party adult software on Nintendo's next-generation hardware.
