The latest update from Nintendo has sent shockwaves of excitement throughout the gaming community, as Nintendo President Shintaro Furukawa has confirmed that Nintendo Switch games, as well as Nintendo Switch Online, will be backwards compatible on the highly anticipated successor to the Nintendo Switch.
In a statement at Nintendo's latest Policy Briefing, President Furukawa announced that Nintendo Switch software and Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the next-generation console. While there are still many details to be revealed, this confirmation has alleviated concerns among fans who have built up a massive library of Nintendo Switch games over the years.
The statement from President Furukawa reads:
“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. Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.”
What This Means for Nintendo Switch Fans
This update is a significant one, as it ensures that fans can carry their existing game libraries forward to the new console. Additionally, some Switch games will be directly purchasable at launch via the new system, allowing players to expand their catalogue seamlessly. Nintendo Switch Online access will also be completely uninterrupted, thanks to the implementation of Nintendo accounts.These accounts, which were introduced during the Switch era, enable the company to assign data and purchases to specific players, allowing for a newfound sense of continuity instead of disrupting the relationship between the company and fans with each new console generation.
What's Next for the Nintendo Switch 2?
While there are still many unanswered questions about the Switch 2, Nintendo has hinted at an official announcement during the current Fiscal Year, which ends on September 30, 2025. With two new Pokémon games on the horizon (Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the untitled Gen-10 releases) and a growing library of classic games available via the NSO Classic Games Library, fans can't help but speculate about what's to come.Other classic consoles, such as the NES, SNES, N64, Gameboy, and Gameboy Advance, are already represented in the NSO Classic Games Library, leaving fans wondering if other consoles will be included in the next era.
For now, it's back to dreaming about what might be coming down the pipeline. The meeting also highlighted significant growth for fan-favorite franchises like Kirby, Pikmin, Xenoblade Chronicles, and Metroid since the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017. With Metroid Prime 4 scheduled for release in March and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD set for January, it's clear that Nintendo is emphasizing the return of familiar faces in 2025. Only time will tell if this trend will continue with the Switch 2, but one thing is certain – the hype is real, and fans can't wait to see what Nintendo has in store.
