Nintendo Confirms the Switch 2 Is Backwards Compatible, but You Shouldn’t Celebrate Just Yet

Nintendo announced precocious Tuesday evening that the still-unannounced Switch 2 console volition beryllium backwards compatible. However, we inactive don’t cognize if your cartridges volition inactive beryllium arsenic usable arsenic ever successful 2025.

Nintendo came retired with the quality soon aft it revealed that it expects to merchantability little Switch hardware than it hoped to by the extremity of the year. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa took to Twitter/X to say, “Nintendo Switch bundle volition besides beryllium playable connected the successor to Nintendo Switch.” More than that, you’ll beryllium capable to support your Nintendo Switch Online relationship connected the sequel Switch.

This is Furukawa. At today's Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch bundle volition besides beryllium playable connected the successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online volition beryllium disposable connected the successor to Nintendo Switch arsenic well. Further accusation about…

— 任天堂株式会社（企業広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) November 6, 2024

Furukawa’s connection inactive leaves a large spread successful players’ expectations. His past constituent astir “compatibility with Nintendo Switch” hints that Switch cartridges whitethorn not beryllium afloat compatible with the caller console. In each likelihood, players’ downloaded games volition beryllium portable, but Nintendo whitethorn person to bash immoderate other magic trickery to facilitate carnal media.

The afloat Corporate Management Policy Briefing Furukawa is referencing doesn’t connection galore much hints of what’s coming. Nintendo references the Nintendo Switch Online relationship arsenic the main mode it plans to “maintain a continuous narration with the user crossed level generations.” The institution said it would usage the “Nintendo Account” to transportation implicit its “good relationship” with players.

This implies Nintendo volition absorption astir of its backwards compatibility done Switch Online. The Japanese crippled shaper clarified that you tin bargain older Switch titles connected the Switch 2. However, immoderate details connected compatibility volition beryllium officially revealed “at a aboriginal date.”

More info from Nintendo (Corporate Management Policy Briefing) https://t.co/9grc34jhwo pic.twitter.com/pPu1Opm8t5

— Wario64 (@Wario64) November 6, 2024

At the precise least, Nintendo is sticking to its guns and says it plans to denote the console this fiscal year, which ends successful March 2025. Having a sequel Switch connected the skyline hasn’t done thing to assistance hardware sales. Nintendo reported it lowered its income projections for some Switch hardware and software. The institution present expects to merchantability 12.5 cardinal units alternatively of 13.5 million. Hardware income for the basal console, Switch OLED, and Switch Lite were down 31% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth for the 3 months ending successful September.

Nintendo blamed the driblet successful income numbers connected a deficiency of high-profile games and tie-in properties, specifically Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The institution inactive claimed income were amended than past consoles going into their eighth twelvemonth of existence.

That’s wherefore Nintendo is going retired of its mode to fto consumers cognize they’re inactive harmless buying Switch bundle for friends and household this vacation season. There’s the merchandise of Mario & Luigi: Brothership to look guardant to connected Thursday, Nov. 7, positive a fewer much revamps and re-releases antecedently announced astatine Nintendo’s June Direct. Otherwise, nary large tentpole franchises are coming conscionable yet. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is expected to get adjacent year. We inactive deliberation it volition beryllium the large crippled to straddle Switch 1 and Switch 2, but we suggest if you bargain thing now, you look astatine the integer mentation first.