Nintendo provides Switch 2 backwards compatibility update

Key things

Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible.
The upcoming console will also support Nintendo Switch Online.
NSO's support suggests that the device may still have the word “Switch” in its official name, assuming Nintendo doesn't plan to rebrand the service.

The Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, Nintendo confirmed. This key feature has the potential to do wonders for the early adoption rate of the Switch's 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 the subsequent earnings call, when Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa reiterated the plan to announce the highly anticipated device by March 31, 2025.

Switch OLED Model Mario Kart Princess Peach co-op 2x1 composite

Nintendo Switch 2 could have a huge Couch Co-Op QoL feature

Nintendo seems to be working on some useful technology that could help the Switch 2 provide a vastly improved couch co-op experience.

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

Confirmation of NSO support and backwards compatibility for the Switch's successor may not come as a surprise to the most observant fans. Furukawa hinted at these capabilities back in June 2023, when he said the Switch 2 would use Nintendo Accounts and aimed to ensure a “smooth transition” for owners of its predecessor.

Confirmation of NSO support may hint at the Switch 2's official name

Reading between the lines, NSO support may also hint at the name of the upcoming device. 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 a completely different name is something that a subset of consumers might find confusing. Therefore, it's likely that the company will opt for another Wii U-like naming scheme that simply expands on the previous device's name rather than ditching it entirely.

Switch 2 will have thousands of games at launch

Such a designation would be in line with Nintendo's stated goal of delivering the “next” Switch, which Furukawa said was a target as early as May 2024. The same goes for the newly confirmed backwards compatibility support. Given the Switch's extensive game library, which includes more than 11,700 titles, this feature will ensure that the upcoming console will have access to a huge launch lineup. As such, the Switch 2's backwards compatibility will likely be a key factor in helping the console generate initial commercial momentum. But how exactly it will work in practice remains to be seen.