UPDATE: Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has given his thoughts about Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility.
The Take-Two boss said the news was good for his company’s library of games, which he claims are among the best-selling on the console.
“Backward compatibility is good for our catalogue, and we think we have the highest selling catalogue per SKU in the business,” Zelnick told GamesIndustry.biz.
While it may seem like a throwaway comment, Zelnick’s remarks suggest Take-Two will support Nintendo’s new console, which could mean we see games like Borderlands 4 on the Switch 2.
ORIGINAL: Nintendo has finally answered one of the burning questions regarding the successor to the Switch.
While the upcoming console is yet to be officially unveiled by the company, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 (or whatever it’s called) will be backwards compatible with the original console.
It’s great news for fans of the Nintendo Switch, which has amassed quite the library since launching back in 2017.
It means you can trade in your current console or store it away when the Switch 2 makes its debut in 2025.
The news was announced by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa on X: “At today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch.”
It’s unclear if Nintendo Switch cartridges will be playable on the Switch 2, or if this only applies to digital games.
What we do know is that the new console will also feature support for Nintendo Switch Online.
Furukawa confirmed as much on X, before telling fans that more news will be announced at a later date.
Exactly when the console will be unveiled remains a mystery, although chances are it won’t be until after Christmas.
According to the latest leaks, rumours and reports, Nintendo’s next console recently entered the manufacturing stage in China.
The new console is reportedly larger than the current model, with a smaller bezel for more screen space. Perhaps to give it more universal appeal, it’s said to feature a black and white colour scheme, not too dissimilar to the PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S.
In terms of games, there’s a good chance the upcoming Metroid Prime sequel could launch as a cross-generation title for both the Switch and its successor.
Nintendo has done this with games like Twilight Princess back on the Gamecube and Wii, as well as Breath of the Wild on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch.
Speaking of Breath of the Wild, there are reports that Nintendo showcased the power of the Switch 2 with a demo for the highly-rated Legend of Zelda release.
The Switch 2 version featured enhanced visuals, and was reportedly running at 60 frames-per-second in 4K.
Also, seeing as how Super Mario Odyssey launched all the way back in 2017, it feels like a brand new 3D Mario game is long overdue.
