Nintendo Confirms Switch 2 Will Be Backwards Compatible

Nintendo has officially confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 (if it’s called that) will include backwards compatibility with current Nintendo Switch games, and it will also feature Nintendo Online. This news comes as a welcome development for anyone who’s built up a library of titles on the current Switch, ensuring that their investment in Nintendo’s ecosystem remains relevant with the next-gen hardware. This means that all of your current Switch games such as Zelda, Mario Kart, and Animal Crossing etc. will work on Nintendo’s next-generation console.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said: “This is Furukawa. At 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 be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.”

Technical details around the next Switch are still scarce, but industry speculation suggests that Nintendo aims to deliver a more powerful device while retaining the unique portability and “play anywhere” appeal that defines the Switch experience. There have been rumours suggesting that the Switch 2 may feature Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology. DLSS uses AI-powered upscaling to improve visual quality, allowing for higher resolutions and smoother performance without demanding as much raw power from the hardware. If true, DLSS could be a game-changer for Nintendo, enabling sharper graphics and much better performance on the Switch 2.

The Switch 2 has no release date as of yet, however, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch successor will be revealed by the end of March 2025, when its current financial year concludes.