Core Keeper digs into Switch 2 with 8-player co-op and a big automation update

Why this matters: Core Keeper is getting a proper next-gen boost – and it could reshape co-op play

This caught my attention because Core Keeper has quietly become one of the better surprise hits on modern consoles – over 4 million players have dug into its subterranean sandbox – and now Pugstorm is giving the game a genuine technical leap timed with Nintendo’s new hardware. On Jan. 28, 2026 Core Keeper — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition arrives as a free upgrade for existing Switch owners, promising higher-fidelity visuals, a target of 60FPS, and native eight-player co-op. It’s paired with the free Void & Voltage update that layers on automation toys, new weapons and a robo-boss. That combo could turn the game from a cozy co-op romp into a fully fledged automation playground — for better or worse.

• Free Switch 2 upgrade and cross-platform content drop (Jan. 28, 2026).
• Target 60FPS and visual boosts — “target” is the keyword; real performance will vary.
• Co-op support doubles to eight players, but netcode and hosting rules could complicate sessions.
• Void & Voltage adds automation tools that change the late game: conveyors, collectors, farm arms and a robo-boss.

Breaking down the Switch 2 Edition: what’s real upgrade and what’s marketing

Pugstorm isn’t promising miracles — the press copy explicitly says the Switch 2 Edition is “targeting 60FPS” and improves lighting, water and particles. That’s a practical, honest line: aiming for higher framerates is good, but handheld mode, docked mode, and CPU-heavy late-game bases with dozens of entities may still hiccup. What matters to players is whether the Switch 2 feels like a noticeably smoother way to play late-night co-op sessions or massive automated farms. The free upgrade is the right move — charging for a mid-gen refresh would have felt gross — but we’ll want real-world tests on day one.

Two other concrete wins: better visuals for a pixel-art game can make biomes feel fresher, and doubling local/online co-op to eight players actually changes emergent play. Bigger groups mean coordinated boss fights, sprawling shared bases and, yes, griefing. Pugstorm says players on original Switch can still join eight-player sessions hosted by Switch 2 users, which is sensible — but it also flags a hosting asymmetry that could create bottlenecks or stability differences depending on who’s hosting.

Void & Voltage: automation for people who love clicking things to death

The Void & Voltage update is the bigger gameplay shift. New Breaker’s Reach biome and the robo-boss S.A.H.A.B.A.R bring combat content, while an Advanced Automation Table plus a stack of machines promises to change how players handle resource loops. Flamethrower and Minigun are spicy new toys for fights, but it’s the Automation Table, Conveyor Belt Splitter, Item Collector, Robot Farm Arm and Shredder that will matter for long-term players.

If you’ve ever enjoyed the optimization arcs in Stardew, Terraria or Factorio-lite mods, Void & Voltage looks explicitly designed for that crowd: make your farm self-sustaining, collect loot automatically, shred excess items and route products without clicking everything yourself. That expands the game’s audience: builders and tinkerers who like to engineer solutions — and streamers who enjoy watching automated chaos unfold.

What gamers should expect — and what you should ask before upgrading

Good news first: if you already own Core Keeper on Switch, the Switch 2 Edition is free, and Void & Voltage is free on all platforms. That’s generous and keeps the community unified. But there are a few open questions Pugstorm didn’t answer in the announcement:

• Save portability between Switch and Switch 2: will island saves transfer seamlessly?
• Performance specifics: is 60FPS a docked-only target, or can Switch 2 hit it reliably in handheld?
• Netcode and hosting: with Switch 2 hosts enabling eight players, will original Switch hosts be able to host stable eight-player sessions?

Those are practical details that matter more than marketing bullets. If Pugstorm nails the networking and keeps the upgrade free without gating features, Core Keeper could see a solid player surge as the Switch 2 arrives and friends scramble to build automated underground empires.

TL;DR

Core Keeper’s Switch 2 Edition and the Void & Voltage update are smart, fan-friendly moves: free upgrades, a real push toward smoother framerates, and automation systems that broaden the game’s ambitions. My excitement is real — I love automation in a pixel-art sandbox — but I’ll reserve full judgment until we see how 60FPS holds up, whether saves and hosting work sensibly, and how the new systems affect long-term balance. Jan. 28, 2026 is the day to find out whether this upgrade is polish or a genuine evolution.