Nintendo Switch 2: The Inevitable Need for Backward Compatibility Unveiled

The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially unveiled this week, and to everyone’s joy (and no one’s surprise), it will feature backwards compatibility.

There have been numerous leaks and speculations prior to the Switch 2’s actual announcement by Nintendo, yet we all expected it to support Switch titles. Nintendo has consistently been quite good at ensuring its consoles, including handhelds, can play games from previous generations, and this instance is no exception.

“I thought backwards compatibility was nearly inevitable,” industry analyst Serkan Toto states. “Nintendo sold 1 billion Switch 1 games, and it’s logical to allow buyers of the new device to transfer their library.”

While I knew Nintendo had sold about 150 million Switch consoles, I could never have guessed the total number of games purchased would be that high. However, if you do the math, it averages nearly seven games per Switch owner, making the statistic quite reasonable.

Last year, a market research company predicted Nintendo will be the “clear leader” in the upcoming console generation, with Sony and Microsoft competing for second place, while whoever comes in third will likely face significant challenges. With the Switch 2 releasing before Sony or Microsoft’s next projects, and with confirmation that it will allow us to retain all our games, that projection appears to be credible.

The first title officially announced for the Switch 2 is a new Mario Kart. It features a redesigned Donkey Kong, who some may not appreciate the physique of. Hollow Knight: Silksong will also be among the launch titles, as one of the developers has given us various cryptic hints.

To stay up-to-date with all the latest information, take a look at our Nintendo Switch 2 spotlight for all the current updates.