The Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo's rumored next hardware, will feature digital and physical backward compatibility.
At least, that's what the usually well-informed ' from Portuguese outlet Universo Nintendo writes based on information from Nintendo content creator and journalist PH Brazil. The creator said as much during his most recent podcast on Spotify. "PH Brazil is currently a content creator and also a games journalist who has already brought a lot of information about Nintendo's or partners' movements in advance and with precision in the past", Felipe writes (translated). "Taking its history into account, there is a high chance that this information will become fact when the console is announced."
According to PH Brazil and 'Necro' Felipe, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be compatible with current Switch cartridges as well as the digital library. Not only that but the feature is also said to have been made available to developers. This would, in turn, allow for enhancements of Switch games on Nintendo's upcoming new hardware.
On the ResetEra forums, known insider 'NateTheHate' backed the Switch 2's backward compatibility feature, and added that testing is currently underway. As for the enhancements of current Switch games, the insider said it's currently unknown to what extent games will be enhanced on the Switch 2.
As always, take the information above with a fair pinch of salt for now. If true, we're pretty certain that Nintendo fans will be happy that their current Switch games will keep working on Nintendo's next platform - something that has been rather rare when it comes to Nintendo hardware. This isn't the first time, however, that we reported about the new Switch being compatible with current Switch games - back in October of last year, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser appeared to have hinted at backward compatibility when he talked about trying to minimize the sales dip between console cycles. "Our goal is to minimize the dip you typically see in the last year of one cycle and the beginning of another. I can't speak to the possible features of a new platform, but the Nintendo Account is a strong basis for having that communication as we make the transition."
Nintendo has yet to officially announce a Switch successor, but recent rumors suggest that a reveal is highly likely to take place next month. Earlier this year, we reported that a 2024 release for the Switch 2 appears to be a lock.
