In a move that will likely delight Nintendo fans, the company has confirmed that its upcoming successor to the Nintendo Switch will offer backwards compatibility with existing Switch games. This revelation came during Nintendo’s latest financial results announcement, where President Shuntaro Furukawa made the news public.
“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,” Furukawa shared on X (formerly Twitter). He further clarified that Nintendo Switch Online, the company’s subscription service, will also be available on the new console. While specific details regarding the successor’s compatibility with the current Switch remain under wraps, Nintendo assures fans that more information will be shared at a later date.
This commitment to backwards compatibility is tied to the evolution of Nintendo’s account system. In its financial report, Nintendo highlighted the significance of the Nintendo Account in allowing users to maintain a continuous connection with their game library across generations. This means players won’t have to repurchase their existing Switch games on the new console, as long as they are using the same Nintendo Account.
This move represents a significant departure from the company’s approach with the Wii U, where games like *Xenoblade Chronicles X* required a remaster to be playable on the new console. The enhanced account system ensures a smoother transition for gamers, allowing them to seamlessly carry over their game libraries to the next generation of Nintendo consoles.
While Nintendo is yet to reveal the name or release window for its next system, the company has previously stated that the successor will be unveiled sometime during this fiscal year. The recent financial results provide further confirmation of this timeline, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting unveiling in the coming months. With the assurance of backwards compatibility, Nintendo fans can eagerly anticipate the arrival of the next iteration of the Switch and its potential to push the boundaries of gaming once again.
