Summary
According to theNintendo Switch 2lead development team, the upcoming console will not be backwards compatible with original Switch games at solely a hardware level. However, theSwitch 2will run most Switch games via a new solution that combines hardware-based compatibility with software emulation that converts Switch game data into a real-time solution on the Switch 2.
The Switch 2 was fully revealed during the April 2 Nintendo Direct episode, which delved into the console’s main functions and controls. The Switch 2’s handheld display has a 120hz refresh rate and can run at up to 4K resolution while in Docked Mode. The upgraded Joy-Con 2 controllers can also be turned on their sides and rolled on a surface like a PC mouse in compatible games and apps. In short, theSwitch 2’s feature set makes it 10 times more powerfulfrom a graphical standpoint than its predecessor. While the Switch 2 will feature unique games likeMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananza, it will have access to most of the original Switch’s game library.
While backwards compatibility on past Nintendo consoles like the 3DS and Wii U handled things at a hardware level, the Switch 2 will do things differently. According toNintendo’s Ask The Developer Volume 16, developers Tetsuya Sasaki, Kouichi Kawamoto, and Takuhiro Dohta explained that the Switch 2’s backwards compatibility solution for running Switch games simultaneously translates a Switch game into a solution the Switch 2 can utilize.
Nintendo Switch 2 Developers Go Over Backwards Compatibility
While some original Switch titles likeKirby and the Forgotten Landwill receiveadditional content via Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, many others are expected to have improved performance from just having additional hardware headroom. Dohta stated that software emulation would require the Switch 2 to run at full capacity, which would drain battery life. Sasaki added that the mix of software and hardware would allow Switch game data to be converted into a readable Switch 2 format in real-time.
Though games likePokemon Scarlet and Violetwill get free Switch 2 updatesto fix potential issues and make specific performance enhancements, Kawamoto stated that not all Switch games will be compatible with the Switch 2 at launch. Sasaki said that the Switch has over 10,000 games to sort through for backwards compatibility.
With increased hardware-level performance that has beencompared to a mid-tier PC, the Switch 2 could be a hot commodity with Switch game collectors. Only time will tell how Switch game performance on Nintendo’s new system will compare to the original experience.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on July 28, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
