Nintendo confirms that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with Switch games

Nintendo has announced that the successor to the Switch will be backward compatible with Switch software, opening up the console to its entire games library.

The details:

• Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed the news in a post to X this morning. "This is Furukawa," the post reads. "At today's Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch."

• Furukawa also stated that Switch Online would be carried over to the new system. While it was not specified which elements of the service would be available, it implies that the popular selection of retro emulators will be playable on the console.

• While the post provides no additional information about the console or whether the "software" includes the Switch's physical game carts, Furukawa stated that more information on its compatibility with the Switch "will be announced at a later date."

• Earlier this year, alleged images of the "Switch 2" surfaced online, showing a console that bears many similarities to the original system. While it had many internal improvements, such as a larger screen and new JoyCons, the overall design appears to be nearly identical and was said to be compatible with some Switch accessories.

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