Nintendo Confirms Switch 2 Will Support Backward Compatibility with Switch Games

Following a recent Corporate Management Policy Briefing, Nintendo took to Twitter to share some exciting news: games played on the Nintendo Switch will also be compatible with its next-generation console, which many are currently dubbing the Switch 2.

The briefing, which you can access on Nintendo’s official site, offers a comprehensive view of Nintendo’s current standing in the console hardware market. It boasts impressive numbers, like the sale of 146 million units of the Nintendo Switch Family. Intriguingly, more software has been played on the Switch than on any other Nintendo console to date. The exhaustive 59-page document dives deep into sales figures and historical context, confirming that services like Nintendo Switch Online will continue when the Switch 2 hits the shelves.

For those familiar with Sony and Microsoft’s approach to console compatibility, this move by Nintendo might not be unexpected. Microsoft’s Xbox lineup is renowned for its exceptional backward compatibility, complete with features like FPS Boost and Resolution Boost, allowing games from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 to perform splendidly on newer systems like the Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X. On the other hand, Sony’s approach has varied over time. While PlayStation 5 supports PS4 games almost seamlessly, the backward compatibility for PS2 and PS1 titles is primarily through emulation, and PS3 games are mainly available via cloud streaming, which has been a point of contention for PlayStation fans.

Historically, Nintendo has done quite well with backward compatibility—up until the launch of the Switch. The Wii U, for instance, could run Wii and GameCube disc games and provided a Virtual Console to access classics from Nintendo’s extensive library. The Nintendo 3DS also supported DS games, although it lacked the capability to play games from the Game Boy Advance and other older handhelds.

However, things changed with the Nintendo Switch. With its departure from PowerPC to Arm CPU cores, backward compatibility with older systems was dropped. Luckily, the move seems to have paid off, and it appears Nintendo is sticking with the Switch’s successful Nvidia-driven mobile architecture. This decision means that current Switch games will seamlessly transition to the Switch 2, providing peace of mind for gamers concerned about future compatibility.

Moreover, there’s hope that games restricted by the Switch’s original hardware, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, will run more smoothly, potentially at a higher frame rate, once on the newer system. This would be a boon for those who have had to rely on emulation software to enhance their gaming experience. As the gaming world looks forward to the Switch 2, the prospect of enhanced performance and continued compatibility is certainly something to be excited about.