Far and away, the best feature of Nintendo’sSwitch 2is itsbackward compatibility with the library of the current Switch console, but this feature is certainly the bare minimum expectation, and it does not make up for the original Switch dropping the ball in this arena. Switch 2’s backward compatibility shouldn’t be mistaken for an attempt to follow the example provided by the current Xbox and PlayStation consoles. In truth, this is a return to form for Nintendo, as the company once had an excellent track record in honoring its fans’ loyalty through backward compatibility with its console releases.
TheSwitch 2 backward compatibility announcementis exciting,confirming that an investment in the Switch ecosystem would carry over to Nintendo’s next-generation console. This was what Nintendo fans once expected from each of the company’s consoles, especially its portables. The Wii played Game Cube games, and the Wii U played Wii titles. Similarly, Gameboy Advance played the original Game Boy’s games, the DS played Game Boy Advance titles, and the 3DS played DS games. The Switch merged Nintendo’s home consoles and portables into a single hybrid, but thathybrid abruptly ended the company’s legacy of backward compatibility support.
Backward Compatibility Is Perfect For Switch 2, But It’s Not New
Ninendo Consoles Used To Routinely Feature Backward Compatibility
Early information indicates thePS6 will have PS5 backward compatibility, but this featureshould be a basic necessity for any new console, not a pleasant surprise. It is obviously ideal that the millions of consumers who have purchased a Switch console and games should have their library supported by the Switch’s successor. This is not a novel concept, however, but one thatsimply fell out of vogue due to anti-consumer decisions in the gaming industry. The PlayStation 2 was fully backward compatible with the original PlayStation, and the Xbox 360 supported many original Xbox games. Recent consoles have fallen short.
Nothing justifies the company gutting the Virtual Console, and continuing to leave prior generation purchases locked behind Switch Online.
Thoughfans seem happy with Switch 2based on the currently available information,Nintendo veterans swallowed a bitter pill when the first Switch dropped. The Wii U had thesingle most expansive support of any Nintendo console to date, with native Wii backward compatibility and a Virtual Console that featured titles from the NES, the Super NES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and DS. As a hybrid with its own unique cartridge format, the Switch obviously was not made to support the discs of the Wii U. It also lacked the two-screen format of the DS line.
TheSwitch outsold the Wii and PS1, so it was clearly a financial success. Backward compatibility makes current-gen game purchases more easily accessible during the next console generation. Nintendo was certainly wise to avoid burning bridges with the millions of Switch owners who have invested in its ecosystem, but backward compatibility was once a given for Nintendo’s consoles, not a welcome surprise.Fans have more reason to buy new hardware that will support the numerous Switch games they already owninstead of paying for premium hardware with just a few games to choose from, enticing early adopters for Switch 2.
How The Switch Could Have Featured Backward Compatibility
The Wii U & 3DS Virtual Console Games Could Have Been Supported
Every Nintendo Switch 2 Game Confirmed So Far
The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with many games in its library, but not all of them are actually confirmed, just hinted at.
The revelation that theSwitch did not support Virtual Consolepurchases through backward compatibility was less forgivable than its absence of Wii U and 3DS support. Switch Online has slowly added access to prior-generation games through its subscription model. These titlesshould have been available at the Switch’s launch. This would have honored prior generation purchases,instead of charging fees to access games fans had already bought through the Wii U or 3DS e-stores. Switch Online struggled to work out the N64 emulation the Wii U had offered as far back as 2015, a feature needed at its launch.
The Nintendo Switch 2 backward compatibility is a good first step to rebuilding trust, but past precedents suggest Nintendo could abandon its ecosystem when it becomes financially inconvenient.
ThePS3 e-store had PS1 classic gamesthat similarly became unavailable when it closed. However, as those titles are added to the PS5’s backward compatibility list, those who purchased them through their PSN accounts using a PS3 or PlayStation Vitacan now access those games without having to buy them again. Nintendo could have followed Sony’s example after the launch of Switch Online,honoring Virtual Console purchases as those games become playable on Switch, but the company has not done so. This gives fans far less incentive to invest in an ecosystem that will not be supported in the future.
Nintendo Switch 2 Is Making A Minimal Step In The Right Direction
It Will Take More For Nintendo To Rebuild Trust In Its Gaming Ecosystem
There arepros and cons to Switch 2, and a return to single-generation backward compatibility, once Nintendo’s standard, is easily its most redeeming quality. This is a step in the right direction, but still a fairly modest one. Nintendo’s abandonment of Wii U and 3DS support can be justified based on the revised hardware format of the Switch.Nothing justifies the company gutting the Virtual Console, and continuing to leave prior generation purchases locked behind Switch Online. Fortunately, gaming consoles, in general, areseeing a return to multi-generation support. Nintendo is no longer leading the charge but playing catch up.
After Watching Nintendo’s Reveal, I’m Convinced The Switch 2 Is A Death Sentence For Handheld Consoles
Nintendo has officially announced the Switch 2, and it is likely the end of an era for Nintendo’s previous lineup of handheld consoles.
The Xbox Series X/S plays many titles from all three prior generations of Xbox consoles, and the PlayStation 5 has games from all four earlier iterations. Both honor prior-generation purchases in many casesinstead of locking these titles behind their subscription services. Single-generation backward compatibility is theminimum for Switch 2 to avoid burning bridges with fans. Closing e-stores and forgoing backward compatibility causes consumers to lose faith in gaming consoles. The NintendoSwitch 2backward compatibility is a good first step to rebuilding trust, but past precedents suggest Nintendo could abandon its ecosystem when it becomes financially inconvenient.
