What do you do (or nintendo) not for downward compatibility? (Image: Nintendo)
If a new console of the large manufacturers Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft is announced, one of the largest in the community is whether the games of the previous console on the new console will also be playable.
How important the developers are downward compatibility and what measures they take to enable them have in one Ask Me Anything
(AMA) betray.
Hardware is not downward compatible, but there is a solution
In the AMA, the developers make it clear that Switch 2 is not based on the same architecture as the first switch. This means that there is no direct hardware compatibility such as between Wii and Wii U.
That was a problem for the developers because it stood in the way of downward compatibility. At the same time, the developers wanted to do without pure software emulation because it would have affected the battery life of the Switch 2 too much.
What to do? Nintendo has chosen another approach:
- Instead of relying on classic emulation, Nintendo uses a new technology.
- This works like a kind of live translation of the game data when charging.
- The result is a mixture of emulation and native compatibility.
If we tried to use technologies such as software emulators, we would have to operate the switch 2 with full capacity, but that would mean that the battery would not last that long, so we have developed something that lies somewhere between a software emulator and hardware compatibility
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The advantage: Some games benefit directly – for example, through faster loading times or more stable image rates. This applies especially to games that suffered from performance problems on the old switch.
This method also causes problems with some games, says Tetsuya Sasaki, General Manager of Technology Development Division and Senior Director at Nintendo:
In the beginning we were not so confident, but when we tested one game after the other, we found that some problems could be solved through improvements. This process helped us to gain confidence that we cannot solve everything, but can find a solution for many games.
More than 10,000 games are tested individually
In order to secure the quality of the games, Sasaki confirms that they want to check more than 10,000 games individually and adapt if necessary.
Nintendo is open and communicative here, because you can view the progress of this process on the Nintendo website. They also offer PDF lists with games that are still have some problems or do not work at all.
The proportion of the original Nintendo games that are not (yet) on Switch 2 is in the low single -digit range. There are some games in the games of third -party providers that cause problems.
The developers make it clear that testing over 10,000 games has not yet been completed. By the release of the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, even more games should be downward compatible.
There seem to be some games that only work with the old Joy-Cons:
- Ring Fit Adventure
- 1-2-Switch
- Everybody 1-2-Switch!
- Game Builder Garage
- Nintendo Switch Sports
- WarioWare: Move It!
- Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit
- Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 02: Robot Kit
- Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit
In addition, Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit will not run on the Switch 2.
Apart from these games, you can expect the absolute majority of the switch games to work on the Switch 2. Sometimes even better than before if Sasaki is kept right.
Which game do you want to unpack on Switch 2 again? Write it in the comments!
