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Everything you need to know about Nintendo Switch 2’s backwards compatibility, including both digital and physical Switch games.
Nintendo Switch 2, the highly anticipated successor to the original Switch, has finally been revealed, officially by Nintendo themselves. The announcement comes courtesy of a dedicated trailer showcasing the console hardware, as well as the accessories that it comes bundled with.
Furthermore, the roughly 2-minute trailer also showcased a glimpse at a new Mario Kart game running on the upcoming Nintendo console. Although these reveals were definitely the main highlight of the trailer, the announcement also confirmed a few key details about the Switch 2. Most importantly, Nintendo officially confirmed that the Switch 2 is backwards compatible with Switch games.
Here’s everything you need to know about backwards compatibility in the Nintendo Switch 2.
What Is Backwards Compatibility in Consoles?
The term “backwards compatibility” essentially stands for a new console generation’s ability to play previous-gen games without any additional peripherals. Although Nintendo does do re-releases for its older catalogue of games, it never relied on backwards compatibility to do so.
Even in the case of the original Switch, there was no backwards compatibility with the previous generation of Nintendo home consoles, i.e., the Wii U. However, with the ever-increasing prices of games and the current push for digital distribution over physical, backwards compatibility has become a necessity. In fact, even PlayStation had to make PS5 backwards compatible with PS4 games.
Also, backwards compatibility helps a lot in video game (and console) preservation. A new console generation being backwards compatible means you don’t have to repurchase a game that you already own. Instead, you can simply grab the new hardware, pop the original disk (or cartridge) in, and start playing. That way, you’re not only saving a ton of money but also helping preserve the copy of a game that you already own.
Nintendo Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility Explained
According to Nintendo’s statements alongside the Switch 2’s official reveal, the new console is fully backwards compatible with most Switch games. Furthermore, the backwards compatibility extends to both digital as well as physical copies of said games. For instance, if you already own a copy of Pokemon Scarlet for your Nintendo Switch, you can just pop the cartridge into the new Switch 2 and start playing. Here’s the official statement given by Nintendo regarding the backwards compatibility of the Switch 2:
“Nintendo Switch 2 plays both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.”
It should be noted that certain Switch games might not be compatible with Switch 2. This probably implies that those games might need an update or aren’t compatible with the Switch 2 due to hardware conflicts. More details on Switch 2 and its backwards compatibility will be revealed in the coming months. For fans eager to know more about Switch 2, Nintendo has already confirmed a Direct. The Nintendo Direct is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2025.
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