Nintendo has yet to announce its Switch successor, but one thing is confirmed: it will support current Switch games, with continuity for your Nintendo Switch Online services and account. This was shared during Nintendo’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, with more details expected “at a later date.”
Backward compatibility has been inconsistent across the major console makers. While both the Xbox Series X and PS5 are largely backward-compatible, the Switch, due to its transition from discs to cartridges following the Wii U, lacks this feature. Playing games from older Nintendo systems often relies on hope that Nintendo will release a remastered version for the Switch or include it in the Switch Online library.
The backward compatibility debate goes beyond player convenience—it touches on video game preservation. A report by the Video Game History Foundation revealed that over 87 percent of games released before 2010 are either “critically endangered” or no longer available for purchase. While Nintendo has made some of its back catalog accessible on the Switch, many games remain out of reach. Additionally, Nintendo’s decision to close the Wii U and 3DS e-shop last year has further limited access to older games.
