Nintendo Switch fans probably weren’t expecting to hear details about the Nintendo Switch 2 console Wednesday, but it happened. GOOD, Nintendo is still not ready to announce the Switch 2. But the company feels comfortable revealing to the world that the Nintendo Switch successor will run the original Switch games.

Backwards compatibility is always a hot topic when releasing a brand new console. Players want to upgrade to the new machine without losing access to their favorite games.

Given the Switch’s huge user base, many gamers are probably dying to learn that their Switch games will be playable on the Switch 2 console. Luckily, Nintendo is ready to confirm backwards compatibility for the Switch 2.

Nintendo did not mention the name of the Switch’s successor during its Corporate Management Policy Briefing, where it confirmed backwards compatibility for the next console.

This Switch 2 name reveal won’t happen for a while. Nintendo confirmed a few months ago that a successor to the Switch was coming. The company has announced that it will launch the Switch 2 by the end of the current fiscal year or the end of March 2025.

Sales of the Switch 2 will likely occur towards the end of the financial year, with March looking like a likely release window. The original Switch was discontinued in March 2017, so there is precedent for this.

However, Nintendo said that “the Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to the Nintendo Switch” during the presentation. A document The edge common also contains the note. “More information about the Nintendo Switch successor, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch that I explained today, will be announced at a later date,” Nintendo said.

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa Addressed Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility on. He also confirmed that Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the next console:

It’s Furukawa. During today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will also be available on the successor to the Nintendo Switch. Further information on the Nintendo Switch successor, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.

Backward compatibility seemed like a no-brainer, even without an official announcement. The Switch 2 is expected to feature a similar design to the original Switch and pack better hardware. It would make sense to see it running original Switch games as well.

But nothing is guaranteed in the world of gaming consoles when it comes to backwards compatibility. Nintendo’s confirmation is a step in the right direction. We still need more details on backwards compatibility to ensure that all content available on the current Switch will also work on the next-gen model.

Nintendo also discussed financial results for the September 2024 quarter during the presentation. The company said it sold 4.72 million consoles during the period. This means there are up to 146 million Switch units in existence. Software sales reached 1.3 billion units as of September 30.

“More software has been played on Nintendo Switch than on any other Nintendo hardware,” Nintendo said.

This would explain why Nintendo felt compelled to confirm that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with the original Switch. Any other solution would be a big disappointment, given the numbers above. It’s certainly much easier to upgrade hardware, knowing that all your games will still be playable on the new device.