Nothing kills a gamer’s interest in a new console faster than the lack of backwards compatibility. So when I hear whispers that the Nintendo Switch 2 will have a version that is not backwards compatible, you can bet I’m in no rush to part with my hard-earned money – and this likely rings true of many other players.
In the latest XboxEra podcast episode, co-host Nick “Shpeshal Nick” Baker revealed that according to his source, Nintendo’s upcoming console will be taking a page out of the PlayStation 3 playbook. In essence, there will be two versions: one with backwards compatibility and one without.
The assumption is that the pricier model, which boasts backwards compatibility, will come equipped with a cartridge slot, while the more budget-friendly variant will be a digital-only version. Furthermore, the digital-only version will offer no compatibility with Nintendo Switch titles in any manner, including those acquired digitally from the Nintendo eShop.
Apparently, Nintendo wants to release a cheaper version of the Switch 2, but the trade-off is that you don’t get to play games from the original Switch. If you already own a Switch, your only option to access your library of games on the Switch 2 is to buy the more expensive Switch 2 model, which has a cartridge slot.
While it’s not the first time we’re hearing about the Switch 2 not having backwards compatibility, the whole concept makes very little sense. Nintendo has consistently emphasized its commitment to allowing players to retain access to their digital game libraries.
Moreover, Nintendo’s track record with backwards compatibility is stellar, with previous Nintendo consoles such as the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, GameCube, Wii, and Wii U all offering this.
The Switch 2’s architecture should, in theory, be familiar territory for all Switch games since both consoles will use the same firmware. While the digital-only version will not have a cartridge slot, the only reason it wouldn’t support digital Switch games is if Nintendo is deliberately barring users from running them on the Switch 2, or if it is unable to transfer player accounts.
Whichever the case, both outcomes work against Nintendo since this simply comes off as a retrogressive move. Some might claim that the Switch has been a massive success for Nintendo, despite not being backward compatible. Ironically, this exact reason is why the Switch 2 needs this feature.
A lot of gamers have built up quite a huge digital library of Switch games – which, incidentally, include a huge amount of classic ports. As such, asking them to spend more money to repurchase games they already own in order to play them on the digital version of the Switch 2 makes no sense, both from a marketing and development standpoint.
There have been whispers that the Switch 2 was shown to a select group of developers behind closed doors at Gamescom in August. From the information we’ve gathered about the upcoming console, Nintendo plans to make good use of Nvidia’s DLSS proprietary upscaling technology.
The whole point of using DLSS would be to bring the existing Switch games to match the potential higher resolution of the Switch 2, in a cost-effective way. More reports from the closed-door meeting indicate that Nintendo even showcased a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running on the Switch 2.
So, does this mean that we shouldn’t trust Nick and his source, or is Nintendo just being unbelievably stupid in its implementation of backwards compatibility? We’ll leave that for you to decide.
