Nintendo confirms backwards compatibility for its technically yet-to-be-announced Switch 2 console
Nintendo has confirmed its Switch successor will be backward compatible with Switch games.
Company president Shuntaro Furukawa shared the news earlier this morning. Writing on social media platform X, Furukawa said:
“At today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch.”
In addition, Furukawa confirmed Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the company’s next console, which for now has been dubbed ‘Switch 2’. According to Nintendo, there are over 34 million Switch Online members as of 30th September, 2024.
While Furukawa made no mention specifically about issues such as cartridges, the exec said more information on the Switch successor will be shared at “a later date”.
CEO of Japanese game industry consultancy Kantan Games Serkan Toto noted Nintendo’s stock saw a boost following confirmation of the Switch 2’s backwards compatibility. It closed up at +5.80 percent at 3:30pm Japan time on Wednesday, the industry analyst said.
“Investors think this is a sign Nintendo’s next device will not be a risky experiment but rather a continuation,” Toto wrote on X.
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…
— 任天堂株式会社(企業広報・IR) (@NintendoCoLtd) November 6, 2024
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Elsewhere in its Corporate Management Policy Briefing, Nintendo highlighted several upcoming Switch games set to release in 2025. These include Pokémon Legends Z-A, for which we are yet to see gameplay for, leading many to assume this could also be a Switch 2 launch title. Metroid Prime 4 is also listed on Nintendo’s slate for next year.