Nintendo finally confirms that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible
- Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible
- It also supports Nintendo Switch Online
- More details will follow at a later date
We now know for sure that the Nintendo Switch 2, our tentative name for a Nintendo Switch successor, will be backwards compatible with Nintendo Switch software.
In a new post on the official Nintendo investor relations
The message then explains that “Nintendo Switch Online will also be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch,” with more details “will be announced at a later date.”
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…November 6, 2024
Rumor mill
Although quite sudden, this news won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been following the latest rumors surrounding the upcoming console, many of which have hinted at backwards compatibility. In 2023, a Nintendo executive even hinted that the Nintendo Switch 2 could be backwards compatible.
Backwards compatibility can be hugely important for existing Nintendo Switch owners thinking of an upgrade, as it will allow them to play some of the best Nintendo Switch games straight out of the box on their new system.
Hopefully, any software played on the Nintendo Switch 2 will be able to take advantage of the almost inevitably improved technical specs, with smoother frame rates and possibly improved resolutions. Keep in mind that this is pure speculation at this point and we’ll just have to wait and see what Nintendo has in store.
The confirmation that Nintendo Switch Online is coming to the platform is also quite interesting, suggesting that the transition between the two platforms could be quite smooth.
In case you need a recap, Nintendo confirmed in May of this year that a “successor to the Nintendo Switch” will be announced “within this fiscal year.” With Japan’s fiscal year ending on March 31, 2025, there’s a good chance we’ll learn even more about the system in the coming months.