Nintendo Confirms That New Switch Will Be Backwards Compatible
You'll be able to play older Nintendo Switch titles on the upcoming model.
By Sukhbir Cheema — 08 Nov 2024, 02:12 PM
It's official: the upcoming new Nintendo Switch will be able to play games made for older Switch models
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed the long-rumoured backwards compatibility for the next iteration of the Nintendo Switch, which is slated for a March 2025 reveal.
In a recent corporate briefing, Furukawa outlined two essential details: the new model will support current Switch games, and Nintendo Switch Online will carry over to the updated console.
But beyond that? He’s keeping things close to the chest, promising more specifics "at a later date."
For Switch owners who have been awaiting confirmation amid years of speculation and leaks, this is major news
Not only will fan favourites like Zelda and Animal Crossing make the leap to the new hardware, but gamers will also retain access to the online multiplayer and retro classics in the Nintendo Switch Online service.
This confirmation comes during a challenging fiscal year for Nintendo, as Furukawa also noted a dip in Switch sales and software, though he pointed out that performance remains solid compared to past Nintendo consoles in their eighth year.
In the first half of the fiscal year, Nintendo sold 4.72 million Switch consoles and 70.28 million game units
Cumulative Switch hardware sales now top 146 million, while software has reached a staggering 1.3 billion units — making it the best-selling Nintendo platform in terms of software to date.
For Nintendo, this new console seems poised to extend the Switch's incredible run while keeping fans connected to the games and services they love.
