Nintendo releases update on Switch 2 backwards compatibility

Key takeaways

Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible.
The upcoming console will also support Nintendo Switch Online.
NSO support suggests that while the device's official name may still contain the word “Switch,” Nintendo is not planning to rebrand the service.

The Switch 2 Will be backwards compatible, Nintendo has confirmed. This key feature has the potential to do wonders for the early adoption rate of the Switch successor.

On November 5, Nintendo released its latest financial report for the first half of its current fiscal year. The Switch 2 was mentioned during a subsequent earnings call, when Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa reiterated plans to announce the highly anticipated device by March 31, 2025.

Switch OLED Model Mario Kart Princess Peach Co-op 2x1 Composite

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A few more details about the upcoming console were shared at the company's corporate management policy briefing that followed. In particular, Furukawa confirmed that the much-rumored Switch 2 backwards compatibility is real. “Switch software will also be playable on the successor to the Nintendo Switch,” the executive said. Additionally, Furukawa revealed that the upcoming console will feature Nintendo Switch Online, thus being the company's second system to support a subscription service.

Confirmation of NSO support and backwards compatibility for the Switch successor may not come as a surprise to even the most attentive of fans. Furukawa already hinted at these capabilities in June 2023, when he said that the Switch 2 will use Nintendo Accounts and aims to provide a “smooth transition” for owners of its predecessor.

NSO support confirmation may refer to Switch 2's official name

Reading between the lines, NSO support may also hint at the upcoming device name. Assuming the service isn't rebranded, Nintendo's next console will likely include the word “Switch” in its official name, as offering a subscription called “Nintendo Switch Online” on a device with an entirely different name is a subset. Consumers may be confused. Therefore, it's plausible that the company will opt for another Wii U-like naming scheme that simply extends the previous device's name rather than ditching it entirely.

Switch 2 will have thousands of games at launch

Such a moniker would align with Nintendo's stated goal of delivering “the next” Switch, which Furukawa said was aimed for back in May 2024. The same goes for the recently confirmed backwards compatibility support. Given the vast library of Switch games spanning over 11,700 titles, this feature will ensure that you have access to the upcoming console's massive launch lineup. As such, Switch 2 backwards compatibility could be a major factor in helping the console generate early commercial momentum. But how it works in practice remains to be seen.