Home Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility confirmed but not every game makes the cut

Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility confirmed but not every game makes the cut

It’s finally happened — Nintendo has officially revealed the Switch 2 after weeks and months of leaks making the internet rounds.

A lot of the leaked info looks to be true with magnetic Joy-Cons, a mouse sensor, and even the dock being extremely accurate to what most have been seeing for some time now.

However, one speculated feature has been confirmed, albeit with a potential caveat.

We’re talking about backwards compatibility, something that many hoped was to be true so that both physical and digital original Switch titles could be used on this new souped-up console.

Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility is real but not for all games

In true Nintendo fashion, the announcement trailer for the Switch 2 showcased the console alongside a somewhat vague statement on backwards compatibility.

This stated that the Switch 2 will play “exclusive games as well as Nintendo Switch” titles, which sounds great on the face of it, but it is then followed by “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported”.

As for which games this will be is completely up in the air and will be announced “at a later date”.

switch 2 backwards compatibility statement

This is pretty frustrating for those who have a large catalogue of Switch titles that they may not have had a chance to complete yet, but want to trade in their old console and library to afford this shiny new one.

Additionally, if you’re a physical collector, it may mean that those tens or hundreds of boxes could just be sitting there gathering dust instead of being enjoyed for many more years.

If we were to speculate though, Nintendo knows what it is doing and the smartest business decision would be that the vast majority of original Switch games will work on the Switch 2.

It could just be that the specialized titles such as Labo may be the ones that get left behind and you will in fact be able to boot up 99% of the current Switch games you own.

As for when that aforementioned “later date” will be to learn more about backwards compatibility, it will likely come to fruition on April 2, where the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct showcases.

So, don’t go selling off those games just yet, and wait for the Direct to make more sense of the whole feature.

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The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech, gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, AI breakthroughs, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Jacob Woodward
Gaming Guides Editor

Jacob has been a life-long gamer and tech enthusiast ever since the original Game Boy was placed in his hands at an early age. Due to his passion for the field, writing talent, and a keen eye for SEO, he transitioned from digital marketing into games journalism in 2019. Starting initially as a writer, he rose quickly, becoming not only an Editor but also Interim Managing Editor within the space of 2 years. He has worked with gaming media publications such as GGRecon, The Loadout, Retro Dodo, Insider Gaming, Gfinity, Stealth Optional, Retro Recall, and many more, making him an…

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