The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is confirmed to be backwards compatible, but with a slight caveat that Nintendo has yet to explain. Backwards compatibility has been a point of contention for Sony in the past, with the PS3 and PS4 lacking this feature. So, the news that the PS5 would support backwards compatibility was well-received. Similarly, Nintendo allowed Wii games on the Wii U, but the switch to cartridges on the Switch made it challenging. With the announcement of the Switch 2 this week, the burning question for many gamers was whether they could play their existing games on the new console. The answer is yes, but not all of them. Nevertheless, it’s evident that Nintendo is focused on keeping its players satisfied.
In a statement to Game File, Nintendo explained their decision to make the Switch 2 backwards compatible. They stated, “Nintendo Switch is played by many consumers, and we decided that the best direction to take would be for consumers to be able to play their already purchased Nintendo Switch software on the successor to Nintendo Switch.” The Switch 2 will support exclusive games as well as both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. However, some Nintendo Switch games may not be fully compatible with the Switch 2. More details will be provided on the Nintendo website at a later date.
It is speculated that games like Ring Fit Adventure and Labo may not be compatible due to the size difference in the new Joy-Cons. Nintendo has refrained from announcing which games will not work on the Switch 2, suggesting that more information will be revealed during the Direct event on April 2.
Hopefully, the list of incompatible games will be limited, as many players may choose to upgrade rather than repurchase their games. It is also hoped that Nintendo will not overcharge for ports of relatively recent games.
