Nintendo announces that its upcoming Switch console will be compatible with games from the previous Switch.
The successor to the Switch has not yet been announced.
Nintendo has not yet revealed its successor to the Switch, but it has confirmed that it will be compatible with current Switch games and will allow for the continuity of Nintendo Switch Online services and accounts. This information was made public during a mid-year policy meeting, announcing that more details will be provided at a later date.
During the same meeting, data was presented about the performance of the Switch in the last quarter, indicating that 4.72 million units were sold, representing a 31% decrease compared to the previous year, although it still exceeds the performance of previous consoles eight years after its launch. So far, a total of 146 million units of Switch have been sold, setting a new record for software sales on a Nintendo platform, with 1.3 billion units sold as of September 30, 2024. Additionally, a slight decline in Switch Online subscriptions was noted, which currently stands at around 34 million, although the more expensive package with the expansion pack continues to gain popularity.
The presentation emphasized that "more software has been played on Nintendo Switch than on any other Nintendo hardware." Regarding backward compatibility, the three major console companies have had varied records. Both the Xbox Series X and PS5 primarily offer backward compatibility. However, since the transition from the Wii U involved a shift from discs to cartridges, the Switch does not offer this feature. Currently, the ability to play titles from previous Nintendo consoles is uncertain, as it depends on whether Nintendo releases a remastered port for Switch or includes it in its Switch Online library, which will not happen for the new console.
The Switch 2, or whatever it may ultimately be called, is expected to be presented during the current fiscal year, which will end in late March 2025, without affecting Nintendo's connection with over 100 million annual Switch users. The discussion about backward compatibility involves not only player satisfaction but also the preservation of video games. A report by the Video Game History Foundation revealed that over 87% of games released before 2010 are "critically endangered" or unavailable for purchase. Although Nintendo has reintroduced some of its catalog on the Switch, many titles remain inaccessible. The company has also contributed to the growing scarcity of older games by shutting down the Wii U/3DS digital store last year.
Update, November 5, 2024: Additional details have been added.
