The wait is over! Nintendo has officially confirmed the existence of the Nintendo Switch successor, dubbed the Nintendo Switch 2. And the news is fantastic for gamers: the new console will be fully backwards compatible. This means you can play all your current and existing Switch games, even digital purchases, on the new hardware.
The confirmation came from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa himself, who took to social media to make the announcement. He also confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online, the company’s online subscription service featuring access to classic games from retro Nintendo systems, will be available on the Switch 2 from day one.
“At today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch,” Furukawa wrote. “Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well.” While exciting, the announcement was brief, with Furukawa adding that “further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch” will come “at a later date.” This leaves fans speculating on a release window, which could be anywhere from a few months to the first half of 2025.
This confirmation solidifies the rumors and speculation surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2, particularly its backwards compatibility. This makes the Switch 2 the first Nintendo home console to offer full backwards compatibility with the previous generation’s software. It also aligns Nintendo’s console strategy with Sony and Microsoft, whose PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles allow gamers to play all games from the previous generation and carry over digital libraries.
In addition to the guaranteed backwards compatibility, many are hoping that Nintendo will leverage the Switch 2’s more powerful NVIDIA GPU to improve or enhance the performance of existing titles. This would be a welcome change, as some games, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, experience performance issues on the current Switch hardware.
While we don’t yet know the full extent of the Switch 2’s capabilities or its release date, the confirmation of backwards compatibility and the inclusion of Nintendo Switch Online is promising. With this announcement, the anticipation for the Switch 2 has reached a fever pitch. Stay tuned for more information about the successor to the Switch as it becomes available.
