Nintendo Switch 2: Backward Compatibility Could Be the Killer App (2024)

The Nintendo Switch 2 is officially on the way. Nintendo confirmed that it will fully unveil its next-generation device in the coming months, and we expect it to hit shelves in 2025. In the meantime, there’s not much more to do beyond speculating about what this machine might be. Sure, there are plenty of things I'd like to see in the Switch 2, from more substantial Joy-Cons to a substantial increase in power. But the Nintendo Switch is already one of the greatest video game consoles ever, so all the Nintendo Switch 2 really needs to be successful is full backward compatibility with existing Switch games.

Don’t Fix What’s Not Broken

No one knows if the upcoming system will be called Nintendo Switch 2. However, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa referred to it as a “Switch successor,” which suggests the general concept won’t be a radical departure from the existing console. That’s great news.The Switch is one of the best-selling game consoles ever made, so Nintendo should maintain that continuity by making a more powerful version. The key to maintaining that continuity is not only increasing the specs, but continuing support for original Switch titles.

There are reasons to believe this will happen. Nintendo stated that your account will carry forward. Rumors also suggest Switch 2 will play digital and physical Switch games, even if you might need new controllers. The sooner full backward compatibility is confirmed, the sooner I can rest easy. It’s absolutely essential for maintaining Nintendo's successful momentum and, more importantly, ensuring that hundreds of amazing games continue to live on for at least another console generation.

(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)

Complain all you want about eShop trash, but the Nintendo Switch has an incredible library. For years, the system has delivered top-tier Nintendo games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It also contains countless cool indie games and revisited retro classics.

Backward compatibility would motivate the more than 140 million existing Switch owners to upgrade, knowing they won’t have to rebuild their pricey libraries from scratch. Along with not burning existing fans, backward compatibility gives new Switch owners immediate access to a vast catalog of proven hits. Plus, it should encourage Nintendo to focus on developing exciting games that take advantage of the new hardware, as there's be nothing to port over and resell at full price.

(Credit: Nintendo/PCMag)

The Switch's Past Is Prologue

Making backward compatibility a key pillar of next-gen hardware helps gaming culture as a whole. It lets you easily play old titles and fights back against the ongoing game preservation crisis. It lets you appreciate where the medium has been so you can better see its future. Cutting off the past makes us ignorant. If the Switch 2 plays Switch 1 games, then Switch 2 owners can instantly play many of the best, boldest, and most bizarre video games from throughout 50 years of vibrant gaming history.

I hope Nintendo will make the right decision for its business and fan base, but there’s reason to doubt it. Backward compatibility has never been guaranteed with a Nintendo system. The Wii played GameCube discs, but the Wii U could only play Wii discs. The DSi dropped the Game Boy cartridge slot. Switch owners can only play retro Nintendo games through an online subscription.

Spotty backward compatibility is not just a Nintendo problem, either. Sony stripped PS2 hardware out of the PS3, and it’s wild that the PSVR 2 can’t play PSVR games. Xbox has a good track record, but Microsoft has fewer generations to worry about.

Enough is enough. These modern consoles are just glorified gaming PCs and tablets, so they should take advantage of the standardized tech. Upgrade what you have, but don’t leave anything behind. Backward compatibility for everyone.

Nintendo Must Stay the Course

As far as I'm concerned, Nintendo should just keep iterating on the Switch design until the end of time, only allowing for extra gimmicks that don’t compromise its core playability. For me, the console/handheld hybrid is such an appealing and convenient form factor that it has fully replaced consoles. There’s a reason why the Steam Deck and other handheld PCs keep chasing what the Switch has accomplished.

The Switch 2 has tons of potential, so Nintendo shouldn't squander it by dropping the ball on backward compatibility. Video games thrive on innovation, but companies don't always need to start from zero—they can stand proudly on the shoulders of giants. I love my Nintendo Switch and all my games. Nintendo, just let me keep playing them when I buy my Switch 2.

For more on Nintendo Switch, check out our picks for the best Switch games, the best Switch Lite games, and the best Switch games for kids.