It's Official, 'Switch 2' Will Be Backwards Compatible

This was my #1 most wanted feature for Switch 2, this makes me so much more excited for the next console! (even though I thought it was very likely we were getting backwards compatibility)

Please Understand

I think i am more relieved than excited to see this. I have way too many games on my backlog. Now i can comfortably keep pushing them off for many more years.

Every once in a great while, Nintendo doesn’t totally suck.

wee hee! yahoo! yuppidy dee!

easy day one buy from me

they would have been crazy to not have it, that 140 million+ userbase is too big to not help transfer over to the new system

It was always a given, but great to see it confirmed.

Now show us the actual console asap, it's been forever.

That's all I wanted to hear.
Thank you Nintendo, very cool.

It plays DOOM!

Hmm. I kept my Wii U because there was no backwards compability with Switch. I guess my Animal Crossing Switch can get traded in???

As expected, but now the hilariously ridiculous speculation can end.

Sad that virtual console will not be on it given NSO is confirmed.

Great news! Really glad I can keep og switch for the kids and the new one for me, my precious

Whooooooo! Some good news today. 😁

This doesn't surprise me (Nintendo has always done BC when they were able to), but nice to have official confirmation.

Thank goodness!!!

I wonder if they’ll be boosted original switch games? I can only hope

Switch lives on for another decade

Don't get me wrong - I'm keeping the actual console as long as it functions. But it sure is great that the current library will be easily accessible on the new system.

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!!

I note that it just says Switch software. It doesn’t say anything about physical games, just software.

I really, really hope that it supports the actual game cards and not just eShop games…

Glad it's now official. Backwards compatibility feels like a must for the next-gen Nintendo hardware, especially with the huge library of Switch games and I'm sure Nintendo wouldn't want them to go to waste

This should surprise absolutely no one.

Excellent news! As far as I’m concerned, they can announce the successor whenever they want now. Just having this confirmation is enough to keep me satisfied and patient.

This is an absolutely essential feature, and I'm glad to see Nintendo is taking it seriously.
I guess a broken alarmo is right twice a day.

Well we heard it straight from the horses mouth. Switch 2 is now on my to buy list for 2025 indeed though I totally won't get one for myself until 2026.

Absolutely wild. I've been holding off on replaying botw and totk in preparation for the successor. Glad my gamble will pay off.

@Starkiller987 if nothing else, it would be nice if Nintendo remastered some of their earlier switch games and if you owned the game on switch, digitally or physically, you could pay for a performance upgrade. This wouldn't be anything new; Sony's been doing it with games like Horizon: Zero Dawn, but I would argue that it is much more warranted with earlier Switch games like Super Mario Odyssey, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to get a bump in resolution and frame rate.

This is at least reassuring to me. Because I'm have a lot of great Switch 1 games that I don't wanna get rid of yet.

This is awesome, very cool and thank you Nintendo.

Never had a doubt. If Nintendo was serious about keeping and expanding the appeal of NSO, this is a given. Many of Nintendo’s consoles have had some form of BC, especially the handhelds. An expected, and great, first sign for the future!

So I can sell my switch, cool

Absolutely amazing news. I am so glad that my Switch 2 will immediately have a massive backlog to still play and finish!

Excellent news. Hopefully they follow up later and specify that it is indeed both physical and digital, as Nintendo's track record with digital games continuing on to new platforms has been.... not good.

Nice, I can continue to play Animal Crossing and Pokémon without having to keep multiple devices at the ready. I did find it somewhat clunky lugging around the 3DS and Switch together during that first couple of years. Now I wonder if this means that the NSO game libraries will carry over as well.

@binkster Do tell where you’ve seen official word from Nintendo confirming backward compatibility before this.

Instant success for this console is now imminent.

That's a relief. Backwards compatibility with digital libraries is now the bare minimum requirement, but who can tell with Nintendo sometimes..

One down! Next on my checklist…OLED

Nice. I guess all those not-quite-30 fps games are officially shoved to the bottom of my backlog for now.

@KayFiOS I would be ok with that too! Oh and one more thing .. can they PLEASE confirm that our joycons and pro controllers are backwards compatible!! 😰

Is that last sentence perhaps suggesting you may be able to play Switch 2 with your Switch 1 as a controller like the Wii U Gamepad was for Wii U?

I’m glad to hear this but on the other hand it basically confirms that the Switch successor is just a more powerful Switch, which is a bit disappointing for such an innovative company as Nintendo.

Yay! A much-needed pick-me-up tonight.

I hope he means backwards compatible with Switch digital AND physical media, though!

I have been avoiding purchasing games that require joy-cons, like World of Goo 2, because I don't want to buy a 3rd pair of those hard-to-use-comfortably controllers for $80 just for them to get stick drift within a year. If they make the joy-cons larger, less buggy, and more comfortable, I can go back and purchase the games I have missed that used joy-cons and use them on the switch successor. (I was pretty sure it would be backwards compatible, but it's great to be sure now )

@Grumblevolcano : I freaking hope so!

@dskatter So the PSVita BC. I do not own a Vita console, but I heard it played digital PSP games.

Well, that's great.
Backward compatible with Switch = there is a cartridge slot with size for Switch 2 & Switch.

Please give us enhanced games as well, please!

Day One buy for me. Having your library carry over should be the norm if companies are gonna push digital.

@Don NSO is better than Virtual Console. I said it.

Good to know I can still play my ever expanding backlog of games and have a little distraction while the world continues to burn down… 😅

This is absolutely sweet music to my ears!

@coolioam that’s a really poor take, guy. What’s wrong with owning copies of games and keeping them forever? Paywalls are really scummy and only drain people of their money…

Expected this, but nice to have. No idea why people doubted this, when Nintendo handhelds have a long history of backwards compatibility. And the Switch is part handheld.

@Olliemar28 truly a Jerry moment

Now I know I'll definitely be playing XCX on Switch 2

I better be able to put my Switch carts in there. . .

@KingMike Exactly. And of course back then some PSP games didn’t get digital releases so it didn’t work out well.

Really hoping they keep the same game card format here.

Day 1 purchase for me

There we go. That's what I'm talking about! Extremely welcome news. NSO is huge too, considering this means we'll start with the library we have right now. Give us the Gamecube games Nintendo. You know you want to.

@Anti-Matter Bad assumption. They only said software will be compatible. They said nothing about game cards. Wait till they actually say Switch game cards will work.

Every Nintendo handheld has been backwards compatible with at least the previous generation, makes no sense that they’d buck that trend now but nice to have it confirmed.

At least I can finally stop seeing people assume they won’t do BC because Wii U ports were so successful for them and they’d want to do the same with Switch 1 games. Asinine.

This was my #1 most-requested feature as well. I would have cried if it wasn't backwards-compatible. Now I'll be sure to try my darnedest to get this console on day one.

Switch has like 9 of my top 10 favorite games of all-time, as well as maybe 90% of my top 30 favorite games. The only game in my top 10 that's missing is Super Mario Galaxy 2. It would have sucked to have a hard reset back to nothing.

This is a big win!

That’s all I wanted out of the switch 2!

This is literally the most important thing. I was already excited, but now I know that it’s officially not going to disappoint me

Yes! That was like the number one thing I really really wanted!

So glad this is happening. Nonetheless, still would like to know if this is true for physical games (even though 90% of my library is digital), and I would also like to know if there's any sort of performance boost. Nonetheless, if at least my digital library carries over, I'm relieved.

@VHSGREMLIN Id easily take an updating pretty substantial library of titles for $20-$60 dollars a year then pay $7-$10 each for titles that for the most part don’t take much time to beat. Especially for ROMs with no QOL improvements. Not to mention that the emulation quality far exceeds what we saw on the Wii U/3DS.

@Edu23XWiiU Because people love the idea of a handheld that can play it all, especially with how large the Switch library is. This also opens up the opportunity of increasing the performance through updates of those past games.

Don't worry, they will reliably betray us again with the successor to Switch 2 xD

And we have won. Lets gooo.

The Switch 2 might just be a Day 1 purchase now for me

What's that I hear? Sounds like an Angel Choir!

@mereel That's a reach. Backwards compatibility doesn't stop innovation happening via the other parts of the hardware, the UI or software itself. Lets just be patient and wait for more info.

That's a big relief. I hope they follow the trend started by Microsoft of unifying their gaming library across every future device going forward.

@NeonPizza I doubt they'll add any features to handheld mode that can't be replicated by everyone when playing on the TV. So stereoscopic 3D is very unlikely in my opinion

@TheUnrestCure I would keep the special edition consoles. They're pretty much collector items.

Rare moment where nintendo displayed some common sense and I am really happy for it. Can't wait to play Xenoblade X on the switch 2.

@dskatter Nintendo always refers to games as software in financial reports, whether physical or digital.

@coolioam
I’d rather there be options for the consumer to have a self curated library of games that transfer gen after gen without having to buy them over and over or pay a fee every year. Especially options for those like myself who don’t have internet connections at all times at home.

Great news and to be honest, they'll be shooting themselves in the foot without offering it. The notice however is interesting as it sounds like software sales are on the down and the reassurance that "hey, what you buy now will work on the successor" may comfort those who were on the fence buying games so late in the cycle.

Awesome! That totally means I’m taking one of my brother’s Switches if the save data can be transferred over as well!! I’ve really been wanting a Switch.

So it automatically has the best library. Nice.

The fact NSO will continue on Swiitch means that they can continue adding games to it even after the successor comes out.

In other words, missing games such as Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Conker's Bad Fur Day, the Pokémon versions or the Sonic Advance trilogy (just to name a few of the most requested) still have a chance of coming.

This is honestly fantastic.

@Olliemar28 It's pus. Go get checked for Covid-20.

SO WHAT ? When all that wanted this thing so badly will have time to play NEW games for Switch 2 ?

Definitely the most important thing happening today wink wink

Probably saying it now because Xenoblade and Prime on the horizon made it pretty obvious. Breath of the Wild got the double release because it's Zelda. These two franchises are small enough to not warrant the double release and too big to be throwaways at the end of the Switch's life cycle.

Hell yea, I hope they are boosted like PS4-PS5 B-C. I'm excited that my roommates and I can play three-player multiplayer using our old switches. Now, to find more games that allow three players.

Now this is what we've been waiting for!

Do they mean physical or digital or both though?? Because that’s rather important information

Huzzah, that is good news!

Well, that is definitely excellent news. Here's hoping that the entire NSO library (NES, SNES, etc) will be carried over to the new system too rather than starting over from scratch again. That alone will help the package feel at least a bit more valuable, especially if save files are carried over as well through the cloud.

It seems all but certain that President Furukawa's mention of 'software' refers to both physical and digital Switch purchases at this point. He would have had to make it very clear if this were not the case.

After all, historically, Nintendo have rarely made such pronouncements without significant forethought and consultation. I expect they will clarify this further in the coming days, as it appears a lot of people are asking the same questions.

I'm totally on board with Switch 2 but I will wait for an OLED model for certain 😁

I want to know will all of my eshop purchases move over? Will the new system give a performance bump?

@dskatter See, I have the inverse concern. I own NO physical games. I have 300+ eShop games. I want to know if I will be able to re-download them all WITHOUT REBUYING THEM on the Switch successor. My hopes are not high.

at least a Great news for the new console

This is wonderful news to me! The Nintendo Switch itself has so many, many amazing games on it. Not just first party games, but also a really strong lineup of third party games support too.

I think Nintendo made the right move here, because leaving behind all those games would kind of mean starting all over again. Not to mention, it would be disappointing to me as a gamer with a huge library of games to not be able to carry over the games I currently have to the Switch’s successor.

So this is fantastic news to me!

I think this pre-empts people with huge backlogs...because the sentiment I've read most here was: I've got so much to play, I'll wait buying the succession.

Now you can play those games with smoother performance and probably better controls. Everyone wins!

There is definitely more to it by the sound of it.

“Further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.“

With Nintendo Switch.

So even the devices will be compatible?

This makes my digital library very happy! 🥳

If its supported well then im happy. Nintendo have a decent track record here. It also means im more likely to purchase where ive been holding off for a while in anticipation of tne announcement.

@Olliemar28

I'm so glad you said Eyes lol

For a micro second I thought you were going somewhere else with that comment 😂

YESSSS!!!

Day one then.

Good to have this confirmed Very much the Switch 2 is going to be an incremental upgrade. And I'm absolutely okay with that.

I never understood why anyone thought it wouldn't be.

@ROBLOGNICK
Maybe for local multi-system play? Similar to how 3ds could local with an og ds and game. Seems like it should, but just being able to play something from last gen doesn't necessarily mean it can directly communicate with last gen hardware.

Not a feature I can even remember using. But hey, more accessibility is always a good thing!

Nice. The reason I bought Wii u day 1

This is great news! Now I know for sure that I will be able to sell my Switch OLED that I only recently upgraded to. That will make my Switch 2 much more affordable

Is that because, at least from every rumour I've seen and heard, it's just another frikin' iteration of the Switch that might as well just be a Switch Pro basically.

If that's what Switch 2 is, I personally will think of it as the most disappointing "next generation" console from the one previous in Nintendo's history on the face of it, unless there's something very special going on in that jump from Switch 1 to Switch 2.

For me personally, "Switch 2" can't just be the same thing but with a bit more power and a few minor tweaks to the physical design. That's not the "next generation" after Switch to me--it's like going from the DS Lite to the DSi.

Confirmed then that it is an enhanced iteration of Switch 1 as well?

Backward compatibility was one of my most wanted features so I am well happy. Hopefully supported well (including Switch1 cart support?)

It's Official, 'Switch 2' Will Be Day One Now.

@LEGEND_MARIOID true, they still need to confirm cart compatibility.

I'm pretty sure the Super Switch/Switch 2 will have backwards cart compatibility as well.
I see no reason why they shouldn't use the same cart format (although with higher capacities) as the switch. it's perfect for a (semi-)mobile device. no moving parts, tiny in comparison.

Cool I'm always in favour of backwards compatibility myself although people here always overhyped it's importance saying it's essential etc for the success of the new console however it actually never is as only a small fraction ever use it when you look into stats on it, plus ps4 sales weren't damaged by it's lack of it.

Its always a nice bonus for us with big backlogs.

This is good news.... Kind of.

Most of my collection is physical so if the Switch 2 backwards compatibility is digital only then that's not good for me.

I really hope this includes physical switch cartridges too, but in a world where Switch flash carts exist and Nintendo hasn't been able to use a software update to stop it I'm not entirely certain physical backwards compatibility is guaranteed.

And breeeeeaaaathe!

Not overly surprised, but very relieved, I was starting to feel a little bit anxious about it, because until confirmed, well… you would just never know with Nintendo! Great news, and I hope it means physical and digital, and if it gives current software a boost… 🤌

Excellent news, great to hear it confirmed by the big N themselves!

That's good, I've bought a lof of digital games on Switch and means the Switch successor will have the instant massive Library of the current console.

@UltimateOtaku91 I'm pretty certain Nintendo will keep with the physical games for the forseeable future. Because you don't really have to choose.

But no matter what, I will be going full download only on the next gen.

Imagine if it wasn't it would sell in like 17 copies.

Really happy about this, now I can get an even larger backlog!

Amazing news. Expected but still amazing. Now let’s hope for some performance patches for existing Switch games that boost performance. Guess this will be up to the devs if it’s indeed possible unless Ninty has done some performance magic that works on all Switch games. However Can only see that being a post processing up res effect maybe via DLSS. Improving frame rates would surely need the code reworked through patches.

Interesting how Nintendo is actually giving some information about their next console. I'm almost in shock.

I don't mind the backward compatibility, but seems like everyone was looking forward to it, so that's a good thing. Also compatible with the current Switch, that's something, I can't imagine what that means aside from local multiplayer / online crossplay.

That NSO is coming along though .. is it going to be renamed or will the new console be called Switch something too ... Super Switch would be a very cool name, despite indicating that there won't be any real new feature ... Wait and see!

Another win for Nintendo they know what to give fans.

@dskatter Switch Software means both Switch physical carts and Switch digital downloads. They've already stated that account will be bought over and this has not been anything new. Your Nintendo Account is linked to the Wii U/3DS Nintendo Network account if you want it to. Also there would have been no need to mention Nintendo Switch Online if they were just referring to digital.

i also hope that switch games will perform better on switch 2. they even do so on modded switch models without the help of any configuration (dynamic resolution and refresh rate) already!

That's good, but will it have a card slot?

phew! nice one nintendo. was worried on this one.

backwards compatibility, 4K upscaling and some great new games? i'm in. i've got an OG Switch and it's ready for the big dock in the sky

Wait until you see them coming out swinging with the software launch!! I expect at least og switch type releases if not more and some BIG name IP's. They know it all comes down to software and N has been on point with all the great games we have gotten. Next level as they always seem to come up with all these original and fun gameplay. This generation has really shown me Nintendo has grown.
TOO EXCITES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm trying NOT to get too excited because it does not actually mean it will read switch cartridges. It could absolutely be backwards compatible with just the downloadable games.

And also I want to know if I'll be able to transfer my downloaded games. The 100% eshop stuff. So the declaration is a bit vague for now.

NSO being there is a huge relief though. We won't start over from scratch with the legacy content and that's a first for Nintendo so yeah. Freaking finally. And also I guess what he says confirms that even if the cartridges themselves are not compatible, there will be some way of playing the games you bought physically by downloading them on the new system or something. I guess we need more details but it's definitely on the right track.

With 400gb of games on my Switch and many still to be completed, (some not even played), this would have been a big factor in deciding to move to Switch 2...so its pretty much a no brainer for me at this point.
I tend to keep one cartridge/disc in my consoles (same with every console I have had since the advent of digital) so I am not worried if it goes digital. I only buy carts when they are at a low price for a game Im not sure I would play again, if at all.

@coolioam all of that is completely false and you know it.

I wonder if they would take an approach like PS4/PS5 with upgrades to improve some of their games?
I don't have a problem with PS5 charging for upgrades as the company still needs to make money. Wouldn't mind if Nintendo did the same.

Which mean is ADHOC Feature still on the way

Excellent news, albeit of minor importance to me. If the dock and controllers are all backwards compatible, it's a small matter to switch between Switches!

This is a good news indeed. But it also possibly menas that "Switch 2" it will very likely using the same storage media as the OG Switch. It will be expensive now if it has 2 different slots if now "Switch 2" uses a different storage media then.

So those 32GB carts HAD to be cheaper now, otherwise all those 3rd parties will repeat that farce of using the smallest ones to saving some cash like they does with the OG Switch.
Also that the 64GB cart had to be cheaper now than 32GB cart for some years ago.

I really hope not that Nintendo is going with the way of digital games in the future. 32Gb-64GB carts aren't enough for many bigger 3rd-party games if now "Switch 2" supports 2K or 4K especially with a fps higher than 30 then.

But will the switch 2 games work on switch?

Hurray, now my enormous physical collection will not go to immediate waste. I'm going full digital for switch 2 though — the space constraint is getting real.

I wonder if the S1 and S2 games share the homescreen/store and not do the Wii U thing where Wii BC was it's own little thing.

because if they share the store then that SHOULD mean we never see the "Switch 1 store closing" headline.

is this really the "Switch successor announcement" Nintendo said they were going to make back in May? I hope not because this is so lacklustre

So you're telling me there is no reason to curb my buying-games-I'll-never-play addiction? That's all the confirmation I needed. Thank you NL!

Anyone else planning to keep the new console for themselves and pass their Switch on to kids/younger siblings? i am!

Now to add new games to waiting list for decent sales when Switch2 arrives!

I agree with many here - the statement doesn’t quite say that the cartridges will work on the next gen switch. Saying that the software will work on the next gen switch only covers digital versions of the game.

@dskatter
Ah gees. I wish I could remember but it was a week ago.

Great news. The best Nintendo library lives on.

keep using cartridge cards for games and im good.

@PikminMarioKirby so weird to me, as BC is the least feature I’d want from this. I have three switches in my house hold alone.

But happy for people !

Bring back the Handheld - please Nintendo! I miss the 3DS and smaller gaming from you, the switch is not quite the same.

I’m very happy about this news, I have for a few months now been stressing about having this entire library and a launch switch that’s about to bite the dust. You name it my switch does it. Right joycon constantly disconnects? Check. Not reading game cards I put in? Check. The screen going black or awful static noise while I have it docked? Check. So now instead of leveraging my current switch into an oled and then also buying a switch 2 now I only have to tough it out until the switch 2 so ya yay!

Switch 2 is a guaranteed success now.

@coolioam how are you sure there's going to be any "performance upgrades"? The games could just look the same. This is all an effort from Nintendo to ease the transition between platforms. I don't think it's necessary, but let's see how it plays out.

Sounds like to me that Nintendo was kinda forced to announce backwards compatibility now, so software sales won't suffer over the holidays as badly. Kinda sounds like a "Don't worry, you can play all your games on the next system. Please keep buying games!"
It's fully expected that hardware sales would be tappering off now(It's been happenning for awhile), but finally software sales are starting to suffer, too, so Nintendo is trying to keep software selling until they are ready to show off whatever they've been working on for their next system.

Ok! Day-1 here! The most important was it.

So VR labor also ? Keep same design

I'm late as usual so I don't know if anyone will read it, but I assumed that the successor would be backwards compatible because, apparently, they showed developers BotW or TotK running on the new hardware. Besides, the Nvidia chip they used for Switch was already dated in 2017, and Nvidia has made much better mobile chips since then. I'm shocked to hear that this has only been confirmed now to appease the shareholders.

Great news. Hopefully also some sort of boost mode for existing Switch games on Switch 2.

I think people are seeing what they want to see in this statement.

It doesn't say "all" anywhere in there. If it was fully backward compatible then what would they have to say about "compatibility" at "a later date"?

What this says to me is: some switch software will work on Switch 2, and we'll break the bad news about all the stuff that won't work down the line.

The thing that usually keeps me from upgrading systems is the prospect of having to start my library all over again. So glad console developers have figured out how crucial this is.

One of my greatest concerns about the successor console has been slightly alleviated when I saw this tidbit a few days ago but I have to wait for the official reveal of the console to be fully at ease. Also I plan to get an even larger capacity MicroSD card to compensate for the new titles that will be found on the Switch’s successor.

@Strob0 it is kind of similar situation to the GCN/Gamecube games being played on the Wii or DS games being able to played on the 3DS.

@RadNitro89 I mean like similar to PS5's boost mode, in which the PS4 games run better on the newer system and take advantage of the more powerful hardware.

Now I can turn the old one into an arcade cabinet (which is ironic for a console noted for its portability).

@ian_beale That would be a break from a decades-long tradition though, wouldn't it?
Outside of maybe rare or obscure instances, I can't recall any Nintendo system that had backwards compatibility that wasn't at least 99% compatible.

Hopefully some of this software will manage a decent resolution and frame rate on text console.

Now that this has been confirmed, there’s also the question of how Switch 2 cartridges will look like, especially if you will be able to insert Switch cartridges on a Switch 2

Okay, so it's backward compatibility for digital games. Great, but what about physical games? I like to have the physical editions of games I like, so it's worrying that they only mentioned software.