Wrapping up the Switch 2 teaser trailer, Nintendo provided more clarification on the new console's backwards compatibility, namely confirming that it will be able to play both physical and digital 'Switch 1' games.
Showing an image of Super Mario Bros. Wonder playing on both the old and new handhelds, Nintendo confirmed that the new console "Plays Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games, as well as Nintendo Switch games".
This, it quickly clarified, includes "both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games".
However, it seems that this might come with a catch, as the accompanying line reads:
Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.
Details will be shared on the Nintendo website at a later date.
Admittedly, we'd imagine that the "Certain Nintendo Switch games" in question are likely just LABO products, but who knows! Wait for those elusive website details, we guess.
Still not all the information on backwards compatibility, then, but certainly a better idea than the somewhat cryptic tweet that Nintendo revealed last November.
Are you pleased to hear Switch 2 will support physical and digital backwards compatibility? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 107
I hope it will enhance Switch games as well. Good to know I'll be able to have both my digital and physical Switch games on here!
This is pretty much a mayor reason to purchase for me.
I never had any doubts that it would be otherwise but it's nice to have official confirmation I suppose. I'm pretty much done playing my Switch at this point but there's still a ton of games left in my backlog that I might be more tempted to get back to working through once the Switch 2 comes out.
Time to sell my Switch and buy the Switch 2.
I hope certain games get upgrades
This was all I wanted.
this really the reason im super hyped abt this too!! might have to sell my ps5 tho depenending how pricy it is :/
It says "Games and systems sold separately" down there.
Is there still a catch, having to buy the digital game again in order to play it on Switch 2?
Day 1 then! Well, long as I can get an order in OK.
I knew this already. We all knew it. Only the worriers were insisting on making uncertainty out of nothing.
To be honest, that was the only thing to matter to me the most. Viva la BC...is what I would say.
@GameName I don't think so. They just put that disclaimer there so people don't think Mario Wonder comes bundled with either console
Yes I saw that too. I’m thinking it will be games which use functions which are not available on switch 2 eg maybe IR pointer games as I don’t see the IR point on the bottom of the joy con.
@PikminMarioKirby at the very least, have Switch 1 games run in "docked mode" even when in handheld.
We already knew about this. What I wanted (and hope) to see is some boost in performance and resolution
Digital back compatibility is probably the big win here given this is Nintendo. Still prefer physical, but nice that eshop exclusives can stay with you.
I can imagine the "restrictions" on backwards-compatibility is mentioned because stuff like Labo and Ring Fit might not work with the new Joy Cons. Hopefully the hardware is more than capable of giving a 1:1 or better experience of Switch software.
I guess ring fit won't work unless original joycons do
I hope I can easily transfer my save files from my Switch across! Especially my BOTW and TOTK game saves...
Not even a concern on XSX or PS5, but fingers crossed it's not too fiddly
Would be great if they bumped up frame rates on some Switch games, but can't imagine Nintendo doing anything for free haha
Let's hope that backwards compatibility also includes pro controller.
My pro controller is still in pretty good shape, versus my series x where I just bought third controller.
@Dimey Most likely just going to be system / save transfer like it already is on the Switch. And NSO ofcourse
Which 2 exclusive games will it play??
I'm having to penny pinch right now, but I'll get it eventually I suppose.
I'll remain cautiously optimistic until we hear more.
I just hope that I can play totk again on my switch 2 with adequate performance and image quality!
LABO, Ring Fit, maybe Nintendo Sports partially (since the new joycon may not fit into the leg porch)...
Looking forward to playing Nintendo Labo and VR titles on this.
@AlienigenX
This. And a bigger, more powerful Switch. So looks like win-win.
You know this device will sell like hotcakes with the backwards compatibility and some good launch titles. Especially if it comes out in time for the children's summer holidays! The lucky kids will get it first and the rest, if their parents are fortunate enough to have the money, will get it for Christmas.
Then there will be a lot of adults just dropping for that immediately.
Okay everybody! It's time for BACKLOG BATTLES PART 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
I'd imagine things like Labo would be the exception
Unsurprising as like I've said before considering Nintendo's history digital games were more at risk than physical ones and that wasn't likely either due to Nintendo Accounts carrying over, but so glad that they explicitly said it for those uncertain - as for the disclaimer yeah, I bet it's Labo because of the bigger size of Switch 2's Joy-Cons (and potentially games that use the IR sensor although we'll have to see if it's actually missing or it's simply not in the trailer just like any label for the "C" button, again would be really weird to not have anything on that) and even then Switch's Joy-Cons might be able to connect at least wirelessly, they might have had to specify it just for those who don't have those!
Hopefully the Switch games will run better too. I guess we have until April to save up ready for a pre-order deposit soon after the Direct.
I'm gonna imagine some games that are a bit more ingrained into the Switch hardware itself is gonna have some problems, i.e. Animal Crossing, which needed a whole new app just to transfer to a different console.
I'm struggling to see why anyone would rush to get this console.
Right now I find it difficult to predict if this will be like PS2 or more akin to PS5.
Much might depend on the global economic situation, which I'm not confident will be in good shape by the time this console releases, seemingly June at the earliest.
Assuming it's just to cover bases with Labo, Ring Fit Adventure and other games that heavily use the IR sensor but will remain slightly nervous until I see a definitive list of non-compatible games.
Probably my drums (taiko no tatsujin) are not compatible.
I want Xenoblade Chronicles 2 at a good resolution (720p or even 1080p) in handheld mode
@Uncle_Franklin I mean they haven't shown anything other than Mario Kart and even the they haven't shown its gimmick.
But if the Switch games are any indication of the Switch 2 software then why wouldn't people be excited?
Not that I doubted it at this point, but it's nice to see backwards compatibility support reinforced. Hopefully the form it takes is implemented in a reasonable manner. As much as I like Nintendo, some of their company decisions...are head-scratchers.
I saw the "May not be supported" and that just clinched it, I will NOT be getting this console, to be fair I think i got enough backlog physicals to keep me going until I die
Glad to have the confirmation again regarding backwards compatibility.
Hopefully we'll also see performance boosts and easy save game synchronisation.
@Uncle_Franklin Here are my reasons it's a day one for me:
-Upgraded hardware
-Can replace my 8 year old device that's on its last leg
-High percentage carry over of my library
-Better performance of games already owned
-Higher fidelity games at launch and horizon from 1st and 3rd parties not currently capable or available on the Switch
Good. Now hopefully they will start selling NSO classic games individually again.
Would like to see it next to the OLED, as well as the og. The video and images show it growing from an 8 year old console, its like they forgot another version came out.
I wonder what games will not be supported….I guess any that use a unique feature of the existing joycons such as the infa red or a peripheral that wont work with this? Cant see why else there wouldnt be support.
@Uncle_Franklin
Since when did Uncle_Franklin become Aunty Debbie Downer?😝 I mean they haven’t even announced much at all…maybe wait for some games and the full reveal before writing the system off? Just seems a tad premature for the negativity is all I’m saying
I think we're likely to see Nintendo struggle to keep the shareholders happy with Switch 2. Sure, the diehard fans and those who have to be the first to have the latest of anything will lap it up in the first year. However, for the average consumer there might not seem to be enough of reason to upgrade before some price cut further down the line. Switch 2 lacks the 'wow' factor by not having a new way to play (outside of the mouse gimmick so far at least).
Sales will no doubt be fine, but I can't see it coming close to the original Switch's numbers. Switch has a huge library of games currently as it is. Many of probably don't 'need' to upgrade for years based on our back catalogues, but no doubt some of us will thanks to the inclusion of backwards compatibility. There's a lot of competition in the handheld market now too.
Switch was a revolution, Switch 2 is an evolution at best.
@Uncle_Franklin no one is rushing to buy it, its not even fully released never mind available to pre-order. Could be the end of the year before you can buy one.
Probably that detail screen with the asterisked detail was my favorite part of the reveal.
My Switch games backlog (95% physical) will live on forevaaa-!
With Switch 2 being a larger console, I think I'll try it in handheld without investing in a Satisfye grip, at least at first. The OG stock Switch was just too small for me to play in handheld comfortably. I play 99% percent docked, anyway.
@Jack_Goetz a bit like the PS4 pro to PS5. If you squint, most games look exactly the same. If it werent for exclusives like Ratchet, I might not have even bothered upgrading, but the dualsense and its innovations were the tipping point. Im attracted to innovations, not ray traced graphics. Game and watch had those dual screens, NES had all those cool peripherals, SNES Mode 7, N64 a Silicon Graphics chip and new analogue controller, GC better graphics and one of the best controllers, Wii was revolutionary, as was the Game Boy, GBA. Glasses free 3D on 3DS still makes me smile, Switch was a true hybrid console which sold like hot cakes. I had a Steam Deck and Portal, they had nicer graphics and more power, but I still favoured the Switch for on the go gaming. Now we have more of what worked already with no innovations and, for that reason, i feel a little disppointed.
@Rainz
Nintendo decided to barely show any games.
I might be less negative if they show more.
Nintendo have really bollocksed up this whole thing.
@GameOtaku Why would this announcement remotely suggest that Nintendo would start selling classic games separately? If anything, it reiterates that NSO will carry on uninterrupted.
they highlight "Switch 2 exclusive games" to me that means only on Switch 2 and not on Switch 1
On the subject of "games that use the IR sensor", the official website shows WarioWare Move It in the background of supported Switch 1 titles.
https://www.nintendo.com/successor/en-gb/index.html
It has a few mini-games that make use of the IR sensor, like to count the number of fingers you're holding up as an answer to a question. It also has mini-games that require you to drop the Joy-Con whilst it's strapped to your wrist.
@Dimey I wouldn't be too worried about that personally. Nintendo's cloud saves genuinely work very well.
@Uncle_Franklin But they announced that you’ll have a full direct in April. How is clearly communicating the situation a downside here whatsoever?
I find it insane that this has been announced multiple times and every time it’s announced people act as if it is the first time it is announced. Seems like people have serious memory issues.
@PikminMarioKirby At least performance/frame rate issues. That would be really nice.
@Jprhino84
Because a mere iteration on a console is not exciting without new games.
So the next 3-4 months will either see:
a) Dead air, leaden excitement.
b) Or leaks about the games, with Nintendo still not getting on top of the situation, which was seemingly the whole reason for this tepid Switch 2 reveal.
They must have games a reasonable way into development, it would have been far better to show at least a little, or commit to a Direct for February at the earliest.
Yessss! Come on everybody, give them a little clap.
@OstianOwl RING FIT 2, BAYBEE
@Uncle_Franklin Wait, so you’re creating worst-case scenarios in your head and then blaming Nintendo for your assumptions? You have zero idea what information Nintendo will release between now and April 2nd to keep people interested. Tone down the doomerism at least a little.
Also, it’s 2.5 months, not 3-4 months.
I would've been surprised if the system wasn't backwards compatible to be honest, but I'm glad nonetheless.
@Jprhino84 Much less there are two directs happening in April. I'm fired up for this system.
I'm really hoping every or at least almost all physical Switch games can be played on it.
@Jprhino84
There is no need for an April announcement if they're going to reveal details in the meantime.
As there have been so many leaks about the Switch 2 already,
I don't think it's a leap to imagine that there will be about the games in the next couple of months.
good that means my huge 60+ and growing switch physical game library can be played on switch 2 that got me sold.
Ugh. The joycon attachment point looks EXTREMELY fragile. I'd need a hard case just for that.
Those exceptions should be pretty minimal. I just hope fully transferring digital games from Switch 1 to 2 is as quick and streamlined as possible.
Yeah, Labo and maybe other peripheral-reliant stuff like Ring Fit Adventure seem like the blatant implication here with the size discrepancies revealed. MKHC may dodge the bullet if I understand its concept right.
@GameName it's a disclaimer against some ingenious folks who may have still had little acquaintance with video games outside mobile phones (even my new Poco X6 came pre-stuffed with several games) and Asian bootlegs. As with the Pretendo announcement the other day (or almost every Direct announcement last year), they apparently find it necessary to summon Captain Obvious from time to time - I guess the Wii U PTSD will do that to a console maker.😅
@Dimey saves have been a safe bet since account support confirmation - the digital BC and NSO with the latter's save cloud in tow are the obvious incentives to stick by the system.
@JohnnyMind the good old IR camera appears to sit in its usual place at the right joycon's bottom, so I don't imagine any trouble with related games regardless of what the new features do.
@Uncle_Franklin I don't plan (or have the income capacity😆) to rush the investment myself but the successor was a guaranteed eventual purchase for me ever since Furukawa confirmed its retained hybrid format last spring. Like I said before, currently it's the only new gaming machine it makes sense for me to adopt in the visible future. What for? For any port Switch itself may not ultimately accommodate, simple as that.
@nhSnork It's not exactly shown in the trailer, but the space where it would be is delimited so yeah, I'd say it's more likely than not that it will still be there.
@nhSnork Best part of the next system is no concerns around ports from the WiiU and Switch generations!! We already have them all on day 1 this time.
I'm hoping Nintendo would follow the Game Boy example and keep backward compatibility to at least two more generations after Switch 1.
Oh also, I hope we get a confirmation that the Switch 2 will be region free and not region locked.
To be honest, "fully backwards compatible" might mean there's just a one-way transfer of your digital games and maybe saves between your old Switch and Switch 2. I just want to put my microsd with digital games (and saves) into the Switch 2 and it works. And just work with the old eshop, give us a proper account system so that everything purchased on Swith can easily be downloaded on Switch 2 too.
I really hope Animal Crossing New Horizons is playable on Switch 2 and hopefully will get 60 fps boost.
I'm tired with 30 fps excuse for Nintendo machines.
On the one hand, I'm bummed because I expect Ring Fit Adventure will be among the incompatible games, and a couple years ago while playing RFA, I actually thought "I hope the next system is just an updated Switch so I can keep playing this."
On the other hand, if RFA is incompatible but was deemed worthy by Nintendo of being one of the original five represented on its alarm clock, that's a pretty good indicator of a sequel, right?
@kal_el_07241 so no Affordable Space Adventures?😭
It’s probably just the same games that are not compatible with Switch Lite
Continuity is a good selling point, considering the amount of people around here that complain about their backlogs…
I wonder if the joycons of the first switch will also work with this?
Also thank Iwata that both physical and digital games will be backwards compatible since I went on a digital spree a couple days ago.
Literally was the biggest thing I needed. I’m excited to see what the Launch titles are.
As long as I can migrate Animal Crossing over then it's all good.
@OctolingKing13 Yeah, if it's not WAY cheaper than PS5 Pro then I think the industry might be in trouble. I can't imagine if the cheapest option on the market was $600+ that we'd ever see 100+ million console milestones ever being reached again, heck 25 million would be a remarkable number in that scenario.
Most gamers would be priced out of the market, so let's hope it's closer to $400 or so.
If it has a 1080p screen AND runs Switch 1 games in their docked resolution up to 1080p, that would be awesome. Also if it could output them at 4k, or play them smoother in some cases with it's extra power that'd be fun. Still very good news since I have built up quite the library on Switch and haven't finished nearly all of it!
@GameName You don't need to buy the Switch games again.
Using same account, you can install them to Switch 2.
@JimNorman GREAT byline wordplay.
Legalities. I think they’re protecting themselves when Labo doesn’t fit, possible Ring Fit Adventure won’t fit with the new Joy-cons and probably certain other types of software. Games that just required the Switch and nothing else, yeah I believe, almost, the entire library will work.
I wait with the last particles of disappointment in my hand, backwards compatibility should be no 1 priority set in friggin obsidian obelisk for this console
@Jprhino84
It shows that unlike VC of the past our games will transfer over which is what we wanted check then. Now is the perfect time to allow us to purchase individual classic game titles .
Probably just won't support Labo or Ring Fit, kinda like how the 3DS was bc except for some Guitar Hero game on DS.
@GameName No. They just want you to know that the Switch 2 doesn't come with EVERY game that ever existed for the Switch. You have to buy games separately from the system.
Obvious, but some lawyer told them they had to say it, since they are showing a game while showcasing the console, and they are separate purchases.
So anywhere between 0.01% fully backwards compatible and 99.9%.
@Justifier I'm on my second Xbox Series X controller, which has been used almost exclusively by my wife to navigate streaming apps she uses the console for. And we've played a combined 20 or so hours of other games. If our use doesn't change and we find ourselves tempted to buy a third controller for the system, I might just decline.
"Certain Nintendo Switch games" also means "we're not going to test all games so if it doesn't work don't message us thanks"
I wonder if Animal Crossing: New Horizons will just be on Switch 1 unless it gets another island transfer tool? I'd like to bring it over if I could, even with a uniquely silly method.
@JohnnyMind I can’t believe that was all 1 sentence.
Wonderful. Looks like I'll be upgrading my mom at last to my Switch while I get my shiny Switch 2. I'm expecting this to drop during the holidays, which means I'll likely be getting it this time next year (unless fortunes drastically change). See you in 2026 Switch 2!
I assume that is probably games that save directly into the system and not per profile that will be incompatible, such as "1, 2, Switch" or "Animal Crossing: New Horizons".
We live in a world where manufacturers have to put "may contain nuts" on a bag of peanuts.
Standard legalise in a world where people will claim for anything. I'm sure as many have pointed out here, it's the obvious ones like Labo, Ring fit etc where the new dimensions won't fit. I'm not losing sleep on what is a fairly standard disclaimer.
@JackTako To be fair, at most I could've separated it into two sentences without particularly changing it, the first with the part before the hyphen and the second with the one after.
Finally, Nintendo does something right.
@PikminMarioKirby Maybe Age of Calamity will finally be playable
Just wait and see, all we can do. Hopefully most of the games people want will be fine. Maybe those that aren't on the list will be added with emulation. April here we come, come quick.
Lets hope we can transport save data and accounts, bc who wants to have to beat every game all over again!?!?!
Whilst I'm excited about Switch 2 I'm holding off until they release it with a Super Mario bundle....
Who knows when that will be!
PC and a Switch 2 is all ill need going forward,
& I'm looking forward to the future of gaming.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...