Nintendo President Reiterates Switch Software Support Into FY24/25

This shows that Metroid Prime 4 will be released on the current Switch, which is good for me, because my dad’s not letting me get any more consoles this generation.

During year 2024 and 2025, it will be my focus on PS5 games as I still wait the announcement of PS5 Slim so my focus with Switch games is for the late to buy Switch games like Kirby games, Mario games, Luigi Mansion 3, etc as I consider them less important than the 3rd party games.

@Bobb Thanks, I hope he does too. 😁

Well duh, it would be silly of any console dev to immediately drop support for their last gen console. Not until their next one hits its stride with the masses.

What if they have another supply issue or some other issue? Gotta have something to fall back on, and having over near 100 million active units is a good foundation to fall back on.

@RupeeClock My thoughts exactly, SONY is very much still supporting the PS4. If anything I think this just supports the notion of backwards compatibility on Switch 2.

«Shuntaro Furukawa»
Shuntarō. C'mon, you can use letters with macron.

Hopefully Switch 2 comes in 2025 and not 2024

Just give me Punchout! That’s all the system needs!

Hopefully some of that support is in the form of Wind Waker.

@JONOFTHEJONS Sorry little dude but there is ZERO evidence that will happen and it's highly unlikely that it will. not trying to burst your bubble. trust me, I've been dying to get my hands on this game!!!!

@TheBoilerman
It still feels like an inevitability.

reckon Switch sells quite a bit after the next console releases.

No rush nintendo, as I have a massive switch backlog 😂

I expect a winter 2024 release with hype starting late spring/summer time.

Can't wait to see it 👍🏻

@YoshiFR2 if much prefer switch 2 come out tomorrow than in 2025.

@Smug43 I’ve been desperate to get my hands on it too, but if it ends up being the supposed “Cross-Generation,” I wouldn’t mind at all.

All those games in the photo have center-aligned titles, but all mine are left-aligned - is this a region thing?

@Maxz Haha. You're not the first one who's joking like this.

@Manguy888A i think it depends on the publisher, as well, but those are the eu titles iirc

Looks like Furukawa went through the comments on that daft backwards compatibility article yesterday. 😉

the ps4 is very much supported 3 years after the release of the ps5..

it is clearly obvious the switch 2 is coming at some point next year or mr furukawa would not have to make a comment of continuing to support the current switch next year..

They always say this when a new console is around the corner, and then they very quickly jump ship.
The fact that Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is the current summer lineup for next year says enough about the state of the Switch.

@Smug43 @JONOFTHEJONS At this point I'm hoping Metroid Prime 4 is a Switch 2 title. Give us Metroid Prime 2 and 3 next year on the Switch and then give MP4 with DLSS powered 4K, something really incredible looking.

I think there's a reasonable chance we'll still be getting dance games and EA FC up to 2030.

Btw the Switch was at 129 million as of June 30th, not August 2023.

So? NES games still came out while SNES was on the market, and the same for every generation since, doesn't mean it will be a lot, though...

Nintendo will be the last platform holder to offer physical games. Playstation and Xbox are borderline all-digital now.

Well, of course he's gonna say that ...and it's true. Many first party titles will definitely be cross- gen for a year or two. I doubt the flagships will, though, be it a new 3D Mario or Mario Kart, as they're meant to push the new hardware. All this doesn't change all the evidence of Switch 2 arriving in that very same fiscal year. The current Switch will still be supported for years just because of how successful it is.

Apart from what we already know, such as Metroid Prime 4, Princess Peach, Paper Mario and Fantasy Life 2, I expect to see no more than remasters until the Switch is done. However, I'm perfectly fine with it, as long as we see games such as Metroid Prime 2 & 3, Zelda WW & TP and F-Zero GX. Gosh, I'd love to see those games on Switch!

@Kimyonaakuma What? The 3DS kept getting new games (not just remasters) until months after the Switch was released.

I think if the Switch 2 has backwards compatibility with Switch games, releasing some games on Switch 1 would still be wise after the release of the next gen. MS and Sony released XBOX ONE and PS4 games after they released the next gen consoles (with BC with the previous gen)

That strengthens the rumors of backwards compatibility which would make everyone in the world happy with the exception of that person with the article written here yesterday.

@Uncle_Franklin more than likely, they'll use the Switch OLED as the definitive version and use it as entry device into the new ecosystem. This is similar to what Apple does with the iPhones and iPads, they leave the previous generation out at a cheaper price. I think there will be plenty of games to run on the Switch past 2025, they might not be coming from Nintendo. If you own a Switch and aren't in a rush to get the next one, you'll easily be good for the next 4-5 years from this point easily.

• TLOZ Wind Waker & Twilight Princess HD Collection
• TLOZ Ocarina of Time & Majora's Mask HD (3D port) Collection
• New Super Mario Bros. All-Stars (remake of the SNES collection)

That is ALL I need for my Switch to feel complete. One more year of support, so I'm not giving up just yet.

(that said...would also love to see more PS1/PS2 ports - maybe the return of Soulcalibur 2)

There's also Side Order releasing in that time frame, "Spring 2024 at the earliest" makes it seem mostly likely to release on May 31st along with the Sizzle Season 2024 update.

I'm pretty sure backwards compatibility is a go at this point. They're not going to immediately stop selling the Switch OLED when the next one comes out. Even when Nintendo stops releasing games for the original, there will still be other developers and studios who will likely bring games to the original. Probably be 2029, most people will have upgraded their Switch units and have other Nintendo devices in their home too.

@T317 don't know if those titles are coming, but they said at least till 2025, so I think you'll be fine for seeing Nintendo titles on the original Switch until then.

Nothing we didn't already know/guess based on the last Direct. Besides, Nintendo would be nuts to drop the current Switch install base for the new console. I think at least some backwards compatibility is a given at this point.

(Disclaimer: This completely ignores the fact that Nintendo has made some... interesting decisions in the past.)

Nintendo really need to make a next gen console ASAP, the current technology of the current switch models date back to 2015 tech.
I got my switch controllers in 2019 and they are starting to wear down.

Also you can buy a steam deck for £345 pounds in the UK same price as Switch Oled but can play AAA+ Titles from PS5 and Xbox series consoles.

If Nintendo don't release a new console in the next two years Nintendo as a company will become obsolete.

i see Nintendo is gonna suport Switch for 2/3 more years and then 2025 the successor of Nintendo Switch will be launched, they will take time to transistion the 130+milions userbase to it next console

OK, 3ds was still getting games for years after the Switch came out so Switch 2 or whatever it will be called can come out sometime next year and the current Switch will still get games

@somnambulance im trying to do the same thing, but i missed out on (physical) bayonetta 1, any chance it might get a re-print that you know of?

There's always bound to be a bit of crossover between systems.
Just look at the 3DS post 2017!
The Wii U - Switch was an exception of course😉

@Kimyonaakuma Most of the games announced at the recent Nintendo Direct were remakes, so it definitely seems like they're just trying to pad the lineup as most devs (both within Nintendo and at third parties) have moved on to making games for the Switch 2.

It's possible that some games coming in 2024 will have cross-gen support, but I don't think we'll see many new first party titles beyond what's already been announced (most of which are remakes).

Just got a brand new V2 for another 6 years of gaming. Not going anywhere.

@DiscoStuUK how would you assume something like that! Hahahahahaah

@JONOFTHEJONS I love your optimism! I have my fingers crossed here that we'll see it sooner than later. If we don't I imagine we'll see the 2 and 3 remasters at least before the end of the Switch lifecycle to prep us for MP4.

People always likes to go with non existent ropes. Furukawa here is clearly saying they'll support the Switch all through the early months of 2025, and people take that like confirmation that Switch NG is coming hahahaha.

I would be perfectly fine if switch hung in there for another year or more. If i want ultra modern graphics I've got a PS5 for that. I can wait to have to buy another 5 or 600 dollar console again with a small selection of launch titles that will probably be mostly last gen ports.

This doesn’t really say anything. It’s been a few years since PS5 dropped yet Sony still releasing games on PS4 for example

My interpretation of that is that they'll continue to support Switch 1 even when Switch 2 will come out (surely, surely will be so by 2025. Probably 2024). Much like PS does with its consoles when the newest gen comes out (they support previous gen for a bit). That's interesting and good move if true.

I no longer care. Zelda 2 was such a let down (it was really aimed at different crowd than BoTW but even my kiddo nephew who claimed he liked Zelda 2 more than BoTW didnt manage to finish it and no longer plays it....) that I havent touch Switch since. Not planning to buy any game for it and Im very unsure if I will buy Switch 2 (I have bought Switch only for BoTW and later I have learned to love Animal Crossing). The other 40 games I own - well not one really deserves mentioning. I dont think I played any of these for 100+ hours apart from maybe Diablo 2 (cross platform save). My primary gaming tool is PC.

@locky-mavo you wanna say near 150mil units sold!

Someone made a good point, they would be short-sighted to release something like Paper Mario TTYD in 2024 only to release a new system that can't even play said game.

It's almost definitely going to be BC.

Here’s an idea. For a small fee (or maybe even none at all), allow Switch game cartridges to be sent to Nintendo in exchange for always having available for free in download library for at least a few console generations.

Perhaps include a postage prepaid envelope with each console. Can fit many cartridges sans case in that.

"...still working on software for the Switch for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025"
The date here is a red herring, all he's saying is that there will be at least one game for Switch released between April 2024 and March 2025, so they could drop a game that first month and software will have been released within the fiscal year

They could treat the Switch almost like a handheld…and the new Switch for more sophisticated games. They can still sell to their massive install base on certain games for casuals….this way they keep people locked into their eco system….

@JONOFTHEJONS It doesnt show that at all. But it does show commitment to supporting Switch 1 with software for the next 12 months

@Kimyonaakuma While there's definitely new hardware on the way, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD being the only title announced for summer (with TTYD at some point too) isn't really the best indication of that considering how Nintendo likes to reveal things relatively close to release.

In other words, they wouldn't be revealing the full lineup for summer until February anyways, regardless of their plans for new hardware.

@Arawn93 Considering th3e only game Sony first-party has released this year will be Spider-Man and that is PS5 only I think we are safe to say that PS4 from Sony first-party is done. As has been Xbox One from Microsoft. A little longer than planned but that also includes the effect of the pandemic affecting games already in development being delayed a year or so. 2 years in or a 1 1/2 years after a new gen is enough for the current Switch

@Magician Nintendo was around 50% at the end of 2022. Those numbers are probably nudging toward 60% by years end. The adoption paces increase as it exceeds a super-majority of overall sales and more and more games do not do physical because of the added expense of doing it versus digital. As for PS, Nintendo's digital sales are not too far behind the PS. The PS is in the mid to high 70's and a few first-party sold were in the 80's. And PS got there quite quickly from 50 to 70's just like Nintendo will. Xbox is pretty much digital with high 80's for sales all the way around.

@Maxz Was this picture made with AI..?

...and I won't be able to get it because of money. I'm kinda dreading its release, i hate to be the pessimistic one, but yeah...

There's no way they will drop the Switch immediately, even if the next gen Nintendo system drops next year considering the amount of Switch user base. 3DS still got support from Nintendo despite the Switch's release back in 2017 and even Nintendo was aware of how many 3DS owners were out there. Not that many people will be ready to move on to the next system and Nintendo knows this. Instead, they'll let people slowly transition from Switch to their next gen console

Correction, and a big one.

"The Switch Two" was absolutely, 100%, not in any reality, shown at GamesCon.

SOME Nintendo hardware was. And the media, because we all went them clicks, started calling that "The Switch Two".

It could be a midcycle refresh. It could be a cloud based system. It could be a Switch with some upgrades to the HD and Screen. It could have been official software emulation running on a locked steam deck. It could have been a dock that does AI upscaling. We don't know.

We DO know that a few people "leaked" that they saw it running the Unreal 5 demo pretty well and a 4k BOTW ... but take a step back. What if back to 2014, when developers fist saw the Switch, the Demo unit was running the DOOM reboot at a rock solid frame rate "spaced" to the maximum resolution the system could provide? They would have lost their sh&t. Would have said it was as powerful as an Xbox Series S or PS4.

No one in the demo tells you it's only hitting that frame rate because it's using dynamic scaling and the visuals are cut to pieces. They deliberately invite people who wouldn't be able to tell that looking at the demo.

It's just too soon to say anything. So the idea that the Switch is going away any time soon is just silly.

@HeadPirate why would Nintendo show a revision to developers at Gamescom, when said console is claimed to run the Matrix demo with visuals comparable to current gen consoles and Ray-Tracing, next year Switch will be 7 years old, who long do you think Nintendo is intent to suport the console?

@Giancarlothomaz

Way to not read my post before commenting!

@JONOFTHEJONS Ai Hoshino, my Goddess!

@Ulysses On closer inspection I think it was. I didn’t personally make it (as much as anyone ‘makes’ anything with AI), just pulled it from Google Images. But there’s an unnatural plasticky sheen to his skin and his hair doesn’t quite make sense.

Perhaps it doesn’t matter as it’s just a dumb pun… but part of me feels a bit icky for contributing the general climate of ‘fakery’. Maybe I should delete it, or at least add some sort of disclaimer (I’ll do the latter for now). Genuinely interested to hear your thoughts. AI generated images aren’t going away any time soon, but I feel there should be some level of transparency about how they’re used.

Well that's disappointing.

I don't believe we'll be getting a Switch successor anytime soon, not until Switch completes its 10 year life cycle first. If anything we'd just be getting the "New" upgrade, "New Nintendo Switch" just like what they did with the Nintendo 3DS.

The Nintendo Sweuce

Was there any possibility they weren’t going to do this?

I wonder what the next console would mean for NSO. With backwards compatibility and the intention to carry over accounts it also makes sense they would they'll just import the current service.

If Nintendo are unusually smart about this transition, they’ll keep the current console supported alongside the new console for 12-18mths. It takes time to build a big user base so no point abandoning Switch’s; that’s still their main revenue stream for at least a couple of years.

@Znake
Nah, I know I meant. Units sold is different to active users.
That was my meaning.

Who Knows? Nintendo's new console could be anything. The rumours where as mentioned above that new hardware was shown to devs.

We don't know what it is. It will have a new name that will baffle us all. Its not a going to be a upgrade like the New 3ds was to 3ds. After seven years, it will be a totally new system for a new generation.
We don't know if it will be a handheld, or if it will have a dock for TV.
But one thing I do reckon, being Nintendo , it will be something new.
whether its back compatible doesn't matter. As with such a huge Switch install base those that want the new console and have a Switch can keep it. and for those that never bought a Switch will be able to buy one for little money. as like the Wii , there will be loads to buy as die hard fans lap up, the new console .
So probably a good time to buy a Switch if you never bought one.
Just have a feeling Nintendo will surprise us all. And not all will be happy about it. But Im sure it will be out by Christmas 2024.
Who knows they could announce it this year and launch Spring 2024. Making it a full eight years from the Switch release date.

I read this as Switch supported into 2025 in parallel with any Switch successor that might be released. There's always an overlap in console generations. Heck, I just bought Street Fighter 6 on PS4.

I would think if Switch 2 Successor TBD is only recently being privately demoed to developers, we likely don't see any substantive third party support until at least the back half of 2025 unless it's just crossgen/backwards compatible. I agree the announcement of Switch support isn't anything we didn't already know, but it's good they're saying it.

Nintendo will milk the Switch for all it’s worth now that it’s a single system developer; no more handheld exclusive system to fall back on in the event of the Switch successor pulling a Wii U.

And honestly, at this point? Nothing to lose on their end. The way they keep chipping away at the numbers every quarter, they’re likely to hit that coveted 155 million+ mark and become the best selling console of all time.

@locky-mavo still you undercut the numbers-there’s 115Milion active users on Switch. But yeah you said Active units, so I didn’t pay attention;)

I heard some youtubber talk like it's Switch in 2025. They just are hatin' on the Switch for no obvious reason other then to clickbait. And other whom replied on there clearly says it's him saying that Switch is coming 2025 but couldn't be farther from what heard so far. They only stated software to 2025 other words a new Switch was taking over during those time not hardware but Software. How someone can go from Software change to Hardware release is beyond ludicious. If anything we get a 2023 Switch 2 if only but a 2024 March date would be the earliest if that's their plan. Going later isn't going to help the Switch markets and AAA Devs and 3rd party that wants to bring games to Switch. The longer it waits the more loose it will incur so sooner the better to get Devs onboard aka BG3. Switch 2 coming out isn't going to stop base ownership of current Gens. The price will and some games don't need ubber graphics to perform for the majority. People keep harping this but that couldn't be farther from the truth. They will both co-exist and eventually the base will move to the Switch 2 or NexTGen that's how console progression goes. Switch 2 coming out isn't going to cause a rift this is in NintenDoomed mindset and doesn't hold any water. For me I will keep my Splatoon, Pokemon, TOTK OLED regardless as those will become the last Genx that people will look to keep as historical value. But as anything people don't do this when the PS5 came out and saying the PS4 will drop like a rock but it hasn't for example. So how one goes off the deep end when a Switch 2 comes out is beyond anything.

Nintendo is simply trying to maintain, or enhance their current performing in the market, because they know talk of a Switch successor, real, or not, can damage their current performance in the market.

The fact that the "Switch 2" is currently just a rumor is killing me, when is the official info coming?!

@Maxz Yeah, it's interesting to think about the implications of AI's usage, even in a seemingly innocuous example as this.

One of the first red flags to me was the angle. The camera is unusually close for a leader of a nation, especially with what he's doing. And as you said, the other signs like the glossy sheen gave it away as well. (I'm curious how long it will take for AI generation to evolve beyond that appearance)

Ultimately I don't mind it for this situation, since we all can tell your intention was innocent fun. However, I can't help but feel a certain level of discomfort and caution toward using someone's likeness so easily, especially with the ability to create whatever composition or pretense I could want. If I wanted to depict Macron doing something bad or simply depict him in a negative light, for instance, then it's all too easy with AI, at least for now.

It's a massive Wild West, and there just aren't any answers or regulations for it yet, which is what makes it feel concerning.

@xenobladexfan lol what?
Nintendo just had one of their biggest years ever with TOTK and the Mario movie. I think they’ll be just fine

Huh but if you think about how old the switch actually is it's 2017 tech, how much people use tech from a decade ago on a daily basis?

It's depressing sometimes how drastically underpowered the switch actually is, I feel some games such as Xenoblade 3 would have been even better on more powerful hardware, I have literally played my switch to death ever since launch and it's starting to wear down and I'm not interested in Sony and Microsoft, I really want Nintendo release the new system next year.

@Ulysses Thank you for the measured response. Definitely food for thought. I’ve deleted it now, for what it’s worth. It’s served its purpose — the dumb pun has been made — and I’m not sure the image has much left to give. I share some mild discomfort in its existence; in the ease at which a person’s likeness can be so easily manipulated and contorted. Not much will have come from deleting it (it’s still out there on the internet and a million more just like it could be generated in seconds) but at least this page will be one fake, shiny president better off.

@xenobladexfan they need to release it this year but they won't.
I only buy Nintendo games on it now and even then, I am careful now and stopping that too until the next machine. This one is so slow and weak. I made a few mistakes last year until I got a series x. Had to rebuy some games there. Now I only buy there or on my laptop (RTX 4080).

@Ramouz I wholeheartedly agree with you, I feel like I have wasted over £100 of hard earned cash buying flop ports and weak first party clones most notably Splatoon 3.