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Backward compatibility with Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed ahead of release

Posted on by Pranco
Backward compatibility with Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed ahead of release

Nintendo Switch fans probably weren’t expecting to hear details about that the Nintendo Switch 2 console Wednesday, but it happened. Good, Nintendo is still not ready to announce the Switch 2. But the company feels comfortable revealing to the world that the Nintendo Switch successor will run original Switch games.

Backwards compatibility is always a hot topic when a brand new console comes out. Gamers want to upgrade to the new machine without losing access to their favorite games.

Given the huge Switch user base, many gamers are probably eager to hear that their Switch games will be playable on the Switch 2 console. Fortunately, Nintendo is ready to confirm backward compatibility for the Switch 2.

Nintendo did not name the Switch successor during its Corporate Management Policy Briefing, where it confirmed backwards compatibility for the upcoming console.

It will be a while before the name of Switch 2 is revealed. Nintendo confirmed a few months ago that a Switch successor is on the way. The company said it will launch the Switch 2 by the end of the current fiscal year or the end of March 2025.

Switch 2 sales will likely happen towards the end of the fiscal year, with March looking like a likely release window. The original Switch was released in March 2017, so there is precedent for that.

However, Nintendo said that “Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch” during the presentation. A document The edge shared also contains the comment. “Further information about the Nintendo Switch successor, including its compatibility with the Nintendo Switch that I explained today, will be announced at a later date,” Nintendo said.

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has discussed Switch 2’s backward compatibility on X. He also confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the upcoming console:

This is Furukawa. During today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will also be available on the successor to the Nintendo Switch. Further information about the Nintendo Switch successor, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.

Backward compatibility seemed like a given, even without an official announcement. The Switch 2 should have a similar design to the original Switch and include better hardware. It would make sense to see it run original Switch games as well.

But in the world of gaming consoles, nothing guarantees backward compatibility. Nintendo’s confirmation is a step in the right direction. We still need more details on backwards compatibility to ensure that all content available on the current Switch will also run on the next-gen model.

Nintendo also discussed its financial results for the September 2024 quarter during the presentation. The company said it sold 4.72 million consoles in the period. That means there are a whopping 146 million Switch units available. Software sales have reached 1.3 billion units as of September 30.

“More software has been played on Nintendo Switch than on any other Nintendo hardware,” Nintendo said.

That would explain why Nintendo felt compelled to confirm that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with the original Switch. Anything else would be a big disappointment, given the numbers above. It’s certainly much easier to upgrade the hardware knowing that all your games will still be playable on the new device.