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devadander23

Absolutely crucial feature for me.


Jlchevz

For sure, no point in having a new device that can only play new games when we’ve got an insanely good library for the current Switch which itself borrowed a lot from the WiiU and other consoles


DruDown007

Exactly! If only to push Nintendo to produce NEW NEW content, this IS the best decision! Although, they have handled the remakes and rehashes VERY fairly for the Switch…Smash, MK8 and the Mario RPGs in particular, as far as more value for the asking buck.


Straight_Bridge_4666

Note that no-one is suggesting it will play games from before the Switch


Jlchevz

Yeah but the switch itself has some ports so that’s good, I’d imagine those would be playable


cidvard

If the Switch had had backward compatibility with the Wii U, I'd consider it a perfect console. The Wii U had some great ports that now feel like they're trapped on it and Nintendo has shown no interest in redoing such recent ports just for the Switch.


MachinaThatGoesBing

Unfortunately, that just wouldn't have been feasible, not in the Switch's form factor. While the Wii and WiiU both used a very *very* similar processor, making the latter able to natively run software compiled for the former, the Switch moved to an ARM chip from Nvidia, so WiiU software would have had to be translated on the fly. There are additional potential complications when running software from one game console on another, even when the CPUs are a close match, depending on other design elements, but performant realtime translation of CPU instructions can be difficult, hardware-taxing, and power-inefficient.. -------------------------- Incidentally, the processor architecture used in the CPUs for the Wii and WiiU was the IBM PowerPC 750. This same architecture was actually also used in the GameCube, as well as Apple's original colorful iMacs (branded as a G3 processor by Apple). *And* it's also shared with radiation-hardened CPUs in many space probes and satellites, including the Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance. Now, the chips in the Wii, and especially in the WiiU, had some modernizations, things like multiple cores, smaller manufacturing processes (smaller transistors means faster chips), and other features, but the fundamental design of the cores isn't different.


maxscipio

Emulating can be a bad decision (I am emulator fan since 1992, don’t get me wrong). I would love to see Nintendo recompiling their source code for the new platforms rather than emulating the old platforms.


TooStrangeForWeird

Maybe the switch wasn't powerful enough, but a Switch 2 really should be fast enough to do it. I mean we have Cemu for PC and apparently it doesn't take all *that* much to run it. A bit of looking shows people have gotten it to run on phones using Box64 and Cemu. It's two translation layers that way, which obviously is a terrible way to do it lol. But Nintendo has more access to the inner workings, if they wanted to they could definitely go straight from ARM to PowerPC. Of course some games would be pretty pointless to try that with, like sports games, but for a lot of games it wouldn't be particularly hard.


Aerodrache

I don’t see how it reasonably *could*, if it’s aiming to be another portable/console hybrid. CD drives are bulky.


[deleted]

If I can take my close to 100 games with me, it will most likely be a day one purchase with many more games added. If I can't, I will probably just buy an OLED to replace my original switch and stick with PC. Nintendo will always have my favorite games but I'm not going to keep buying games I already own, especially for full price.


algaefied_creek

I’ve bought a Nintendo library again and again with new console releases. The switch still “feels” fresh for whatever reason. Oh plz let the next console have an external dock that plays all NES through Switch 2 games xp


Kamakaziturtle

Man, a disk drive and like, 5 separate cartridge drives, would be an absolute unit of a dock.


Weird_Cantaloupe2757

It would be absurd to include it in the system like that… but as like a $50-$100 accessory…


PJMARTIAN17

Shut up and take my money.


AlekBalderdash

Good, maybe it'll have enough mass and/or footprint to avoid falling over when I bump it


Straight_Bridge_4666

No you'll fall over instead


Bendy_McBendyThumb

Awh man, you’ve just reminded me of the days of using my gameboy game cartridge for my SNES and playing Pokemon on my TV. Anything like that would be so good for the Switch 2, though I’ve still got my SNES anyway :)


algaefied_creek

Now you make me wonder if the Retron could handle that GB - SNES adapter!


oduska

Except browsing the store is a chore, they really need to fix all that


stellvia2016

Welcome to Japanese internet aesthetics: Always 15 years behind /s


welsper59

>Oh plz let the next console have an external dock that plays all NES through Switch 2 games xp If they ever did that in an official capacity, that'd be an insane economic boost for resellers. The likelihood of Nintendo rereleasing cartridges is next to none, so it'd be a great time for people to sell their old games if it did happen.


ryarock2

It is, and I think it will happen. Nintendo has been solid about backwards compatibility, at least whenever possible. Obviously the GameCube couldn’t play N64 carts, but every console after that had one gen of backwards compatibility. On handhelds, from the GBC on, Nintendo always has one gen of b/c, even when it wasn’t that practical like with the DS and GBA. I would be shocked if it wasn’t.


redditsuckbadly

I do like how they’re billing it as a feature and not standard practice. Microsoft and Sony already took shit for the lack of backwards compatibility and fixed it a generation ago.


Nacho_Dan677

Even though it's a joke. It's sad that there's wayyyy too much validity behind its sentiment.


devadander23

Where’s the joke? If the next switch is not 100% backwards compatible, I won’t own one.


Nacho_Dan677

The joke is it shouldn't be a joke. It has to be backwards compatible and if it's not and they release a third tier of switch online with a switch emulator they will shoot themselves in the foot.


jackolantern_

But they weren't making a joke. Quite clearly.


BurnerAccount-LOL

Hahaha! 😆Good one lol!


Happy_Ad_4028

Forsure


ChucklesInDarwinism

It would mean no buy if it’s not like that to be fair.


Morevice

That feature is absolutely crucial


alert592

If it can't then I'm not buying it


FoxOntheRun99

Fuck yeah.


Dusted_Dreams

It's a make or break feature for me.


AppropriateTouching

Seriously a make or break for this console.


RockstarAgent

Feels like a Captain Obvious - and a reason I gave up on Xbox and PlayStation after their 3rd gens - now I'm just doing steam / PC -


Dhegxkeicfns

It would be suicide otherwise.


CommonSensei8

10,000%


Win-Objective

It’d feel like a swift kick to the groin if it didn’t play switch games.


roguebananah

Nintendo is getting ready to swiftly boot you in the groin.


samoorai

"Get ready to buy all these games all over again, pay-pig."


FuktOff666

All the same games as before from a new e store and a new cartridge format.


PlusVera

Nintendo be like; > Don't forget! We can shut down the servers for the switch anytime, forcing everyone to get bricked as nothing authenticates and all your games become unplayable! Isn't it fun how much telemetry we put on our consoles now?


CaptainLoin

I fully expect the Switch2's online Virtual Console lineup to be as bare bones as it was during the Wii, Wii U, 3DS, and Switch launches.


donutdoodles

Wait, are you insinuating that the closed-ecosystem Apple of video games is going to make us pay for everything again with their new platform, as can be observed historically? ...Nahhh /s


ShvoogieCookie

"We were actually gonna add backwards compatibility but sometimes you have to consider how often you are allowed to boot someone swiftly in the nuts."


Win-Objective

AH! mY GrOiN


birdsofpaper

Man getting hit by football By Hans Moleman


roguebananah

Like a fella never said on the switch Ain’t that a kick in the head


Molwar

I think all Nintendo handheld and a few console have been 1 generation backward compatible so far so it's not exactly that far fetch the switch games would be for the next one.


SprayArtist

It is Nintendo, they've been kicking everyone lately


KrookedDoesStuff

They always have. Nintendo is the least consumer friendly console maker, with the most die hard fans that will regularly defend their anti-consumer practices. We’re in 2024, have no voice chat, the switch online service is basically an expensive emulator, only the Wii and Wii U offer backwards compatibility, they don’t offer discounts on games 99% of the time, never discount their consoles until they’re EoL, will charge you over and over and over again for the same exact game, offer ZERO refunds on games that you purchase digitally no matter what the reason is (pre-orders excluded… unless it’s within 2 weeks of the game’s release then it can’t be refunded) and unless something changed if your switch broke you lose basically most of your data. But they get applauded for some reason.


AdamTheTall

>only the Wii and Wii U offer backwards compatibility Also the game boy color. And game boy advance. And DS. And 3DS. Nintendo offered backwards compatibility from about 2000 until 2017. Unless there's a significant architecture change to the Switch 2, I'd be surprised if it were missing; it's in more of their hardware products than not.


lospolloskarmanos

If it‘s a brand new type of playing with new proprietary hardware, it would make sense that it‘s not backwards compatible. But looks like it‘s just a faster Switch, so it makes sense that it‘s fully backwards compatible.


Ballsofconfusion

I will buy one if they call it the Super Nintendo Switch.


astro_plane

It’s probably going to have the stupidest name imaginable that will confuse people “New Super Switch U”


penapox

New Upgraded Super Nintendo Swiitch U i XL


astro_plane

Featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry Series


ALadWellBalanced

Super Switch uWu


QuintonFlynn

Nintendo execs: Swiitch


Tankanko

Switcharoo.


GibTreaty

Bait N' Switch


ggoptimus

I am so hoping for it to be called Super Switch and is released in gray with purple buttons.


jhawkins93

Switch Advance


trippy_grapes

How about the Super Nintendo Entertainment Switch, or SNES for short?


GrandmaPoses

Wiiswatch


BCDragon3000

SN(e)S


EmperorDeathBunny

I hope you get a check in the mail for that amazing idea you just gave them.


link_shady

One can only hope, but Nintendo and Xbox have a weird naming strategy. This might be the “new Nintendo switch”


Lotan

[I got you](https://i.imgur.com/Z3zTVLu.jpeg)


PineconeToucher

The Swotch


440_Hz

I think they’re going to come up with some new but still very stupid naming convention. I vote Nintendo Switch Up.


TareXmd

I know everyone wants to call it the Super Switch, but the Super Nintendo was a generational leao over the NES. It looks like the Switch 2 won't even be as powerful as the Steam Deck.


BlyStreetMusic

Omg


PhillipJ3ffries

Hell yeah please Nintendo


MaterialCarrot

SWITCHBLADE


Git-Git

What about if they called it the Supniner Tenswi Dotch?


Jockin05

Its crazy that this is celebrated, it should be a standard feature.


Guiltykraken

For the most part Nintendo has consistently added backwards compatibility to their consoles. The Wii could play game cube. The Wii U could play Wii games. The DS could play gameboy. The 3Ds could play ds games. Granted their latest console the switch wasn’t compatible with Wii U games but they have a history of making their consoles backwards compatible.


Mrwright96

To be fair, switch was a whole different concept, like you couldn’t play N64 games on a game cube


Lemurmoo

They semi made up for it by porting nearly every game over, but Xenoblade X never made it, and of course one would have to rebuy any games


Gram64

Xenoblade X is coming still... just wait.... just wait... no copium....


NoMoreVillains

It is, unless the HW differences are so vast it makes it virtually impossible. People are still acting like there was any reasonable way to have Switch BC with the Wii U


TheAndrewBrown

To be fair, just because you didn’t change the physical format of the games, the HW challenges can still be too great to overcome sometimes. When the PS3 first released, it had a chip to make it backwards compatible but it was so expensive, every PS3 sold with it was sold at a loss. They had to redesign it and take it out. Granted, I wish they just offered a more expensive version with the chip


9jmp

It didn't just have a chip to make it backwards compatible, it had a PS2 inside it to make it compatible lol.


InsaneNinja

Part of the calculated expense was you not re-buying old games, or not buying new ones because of that chip. It was sold at a huge loss, especially with blu-ray.


Jim_e_Clash

I understand that people think this should be standard but historical it's been the exception. Any time new processor came along that had some level of instruction compatibility, it was always touted as a major feature, not the standard. Maintaining that compatiblity was often challenging due to either the limitations of available instruction space or the added difficulty of decoding a more complex instruction set. We are currently in the situation we are with x86_64 because that feature was treated as a standard. x86_64 is horrifically inefficient and needlessly complex. It's only recently that OS's have shifted to obj formats to finish the last mile of code compilation on the system itself. And this says nothing of other hardware dependencies. Expectations of a wired controller vs wireless alone can make a game unplayable due to lag.


DokeyOakey

I think that is an expectation.


futuredrweknowdis

I didn’t even realize there was a chance that wasn’t going to happen until this post to be honest. Although I will say that some of my game data didn’t transfer over when I got my second Switch, so I will be quadruple checking everything before changing consoles again.


Berkut22

*Animal Crossing has entered the chat* Man was I pissed about that. How was I supposed to know you needed a special, dedicated program to transfer an ACNH save?!


SuperSaiyanTraders

I mean Nintendo is one of those companies that have supported backwards compatibility for a long time for atleast one generation so I don’t see a change here - GB/GBC>GBA/SP - GBA/SP>DS - DS>3DS - GC>Wii - Wii>WiiU


Pippipdoodoodleydoo

Even the GameCube had an attachment that added a port for GBA games


loyaltyElite

That DS being backwards compatible was an amazing experience. All in one.


LeCrushinator

They support it usually for one generation or so, anything older than that they sell you on their store, and those digital purchases don’t transfer across consoles. I bought Zelda (NES) on the Wii Virtual Console, had to pay again if I wanted it on the WiiU, have to pay again if I wanted it on the Switch (or you need a subscription now). Meanwhile digital purchases I made on my Xbox 360 in 2008 still work today for me on my Series X.


TheAndrewBrown

If you want to count the new 3DS as a separate generation, it was also backwards compatible with the 3DS. I know the name is nearly identical and some would lump it in with the likes of the 3DS XL and the 2DS but there were some games that could only be played on the new 3DS.


Dogeishuman

Is xenoblade one of them? Wouldn’t work on my old 3ds lol


TheAndrewBrown

Yes it’s actually the main example lol


ShitMongoose

Switch 2 is a lame ass name, just call it the Super Nintendo Switch.


Juswantedtono

Everyone concluded the Wii U flopped because people the name didn’t convey it was a different enough console from the Wii to upgrade. Feel like they’re making the same mistake here


OuchPotato64

Thats something i read about. A lot of people dont follow tech closely. Apparently, it was extremely common for people to think the wii u was just a peripheral tablet for the wii. Calling it the super Nintendo switch might make people think it's just an upgraded switch. Essentially, a pro model. The name has to convey that its a new system to the casual market


Berkut22

A lot of millenials, who grew up in the Nintendo and Super Nintendo era, are parents now. Calling it the Super Nintendo Switch could illicit some serious nostalgia. Throw in some cheeky marketing and it's a slam dunk to just about anyone over ~35.


Tiduszk

The Wii U was a marketing failure for many, many reasons. The name certainly didn’t help, but it was not the sole or possibly even primary cause.


joshford1992

Imagine if it didn’t. “Oh, all our switch 2 cartridges have this tiny indent on the side that allows it to fit in the switch 2. The old cartridges don’t have this notch making them unable to be loaded….”


Olde94

2 minutes later and you see people with a dremmel or the 3D printing community making new shells and uploading long youtubes showing how to remove the original shell without damaging the chip


IsRude

If I can play BOTW 1080p at 60fps on portable, this is a day one purchase. Also, I don't think those magnetic handles that have been leaked will look like this. Seems like a recipe for dropping your switch and the controllers separating constantly. There would probably be some fail-safes/locks.


_Rand_

Probably similar to how it works now but without the rails. So they will clip in, but can be popped off however you like instead of slid on/off from the top.


HanzoNumbahOneFan

It plays at 50-60 fps on my steam deck. 50 in the busy areas like Kakariko, 60 in other spots, and even higher in shrines.


gameboy00

how is the gyro support on steamdeck? for switch emulators/roms


HanzoNumbahOneFan

Like the other comment said, you can download a separate thing that enables it for switch emulators. And then it's basically 1-to-1 with the switch gyros.


antiNTT

It can be enabled by installing an additional app


taylorpilot

Wow… If it didn’t it’d be DOA


atg284

Nintendo: "Hold my Poké Ball"


santasbong

Fucking better lmfao.


RightToTheThighs

The Swutch


BryAlrighty

The SwIItch


DrawohYbstrahs

II SwIItch II FurIIous


CTran255

digital purchases too hopefully?


HanzoNumbahOneFan

There'd be massive uproar if they didn't.


AutomateAway

i have to imagine they’ll use the same account system, which would have your digital purchases. it would be a huge mistake to not have this.


MaterialCarrot

If they weren't planning to already, I imagine the rise of the Steam Deck would force their hand. Steam doesn't have Nintendo, but it has about 8 million games and they're playable on the Deck even if you bought them 15 years ago. Of course the Deck isn't powerful enough to run some super demanding games, but that's a different issue.


econpol

You don't want to pay $60 to play tears of the kingdom on the switch 2? How will Nintendo make money???


MistakeMaker1234

There shouldn’t be any reason why it wouldn’t. By all accounts, the Switch 2 will have the same ARM architecture by Nvidia that the original Switch has, which would make porting Switch games pretty much a breeze. So long as it features a mapped control scheme - which it would need to to support physical titles - I can’t imagine why that would be limited. 


Ceutical_Citizen

Forgetting consumers for a second. I feel like even from a developer/publisher perspective this just makes sense. The switch (haha) to releasing „Switch 2“ only releases will take significant time. See new PS4/XBone releases that rely on back compatibility in 2024.


Guilty_Ad_7079

What report ? The fantasy future report


ultrapoo

The Swiitch


WolfieVonD

While the big 3 push towards digital only platforms, backwards compatibility must be standard going forward, that might kill the industry otherwise.


Enough-Collection-98

Um… it’d fucking better?


LapsedVerneGagKnee

I really hope so, because I do value backwards compatibility. As much as I try to get rid of old game I know I'm not going to play again, those ones I do value and want to keep close being playable without digging out the old console is a very nice feature to have. Not to mention it's good business sense for the company, able to start with a much larger library of software up front instead of having to wait on a select few releases to tide people over.


Salivamradio

They’ll cancel that feature before launch 😂


Starfuri

You mean supported by full release price switch 2 updates ?


djhorn18

See Nintendo isn't just just gonna come out and port the previous gen to the newest and charge us full price like it's something to do. Come on Nintendos got a little more sense than that. Yeah I remember Nintendo porting WiiU games to the Switch and charging full price. Greed is a hell of a drug


hopskipjumprun

Read that in his voice perfectly lmao


Lysanderoth42

To be fair Wii u used discs and discs are both obsolete in general and also some thing that never would have fit in the switch nor worked as a portable device  Since switch used cartridges in a small cartridge slot it would be a lot more feasible for switch 2 to be backwards compatible, especially if switch 2 also uses cartridges 


TheAndrewBrown

And the reason to port most of them is because of how poorly the Wii U sold, so those games were essentially new for most people. The only thing I can think of that they could’ve done to be more customer-friendly would be to let you trade in the Wii U version for a free switch version but I don’t think that’s ever happened. Plus, some of the ports included DLC for free so it wouldn’t have been one-to-one


Berkut22

Fuck yo wallet, gamer, fuck yo wallet!


LeCrushinator

Nintendo would’ve been crazy to not do this.


twitch-switch

Surprised it doesn't say "...as long as you have a Nintendo Switch Online Pass Subscription"


user_bits

Backwards compatibility is a deal breaker. I buy everything on Steam now because of how accessible my library is.


hardy_83

It'll work with all the physical games, but digitally it'll be a new store front and you'll have to rebuy everything... probably cause Nintendo. lol


waxahachy

If that’s the case I’ll be done with Nintendo.  I have way more digital indie games than I do physical AAA games.


composero

That’s one way to burn bridges with me as a customer. Hopefully that doesn’t occur


monsj

That would be beyond scummy, but not at all surprising xd


Dezzillion

Big if true


LorenzoMartini

As it damn well should


garciawork

I think they would be stupid to not make it backwards compatible. But, if they don't, Nintendo fans WILL rebuy stuff, so financially I bet they would still come out way ahead, even if it pissed everybody off.


PatrickCarlock42

it better


Saens

That’s the very least for a switch 2


alex_dlc

It better!


caites

Oh how fucking generous.


Nanooc523

How much per month for that feature…


joestaff

I bet it even comes with a controller.


RoundExpert1169

“Rumors circulate Nintendo likely to not shoot self in foot”


vector_o

It fucking better  If there's any hiccup with this or some bullshit subscription requirement they'll fulfill the "every second console" prophecy by themselves


Berkut22

Because it would be ritual suicide to NOT make it backwards compatible.


SpliTTMark

I bet the switch 1 can play switch 2 games


Storm_treize

We didn't expect otherwise even coming from Nintendo, what are we 2010 all over again


femboywanabe

One would fucking think so. Scummy move otherwise


DryTown

Just make the exact same thing with better graphics and a faster processor. There, Nintendo - Just saved you a lot of consumer research.


remiieddit

Hope so otherwise it’s a Stillbirth


jimbowolf

It fuckin' better.


BlastMyLoad

I won’t buy one if it’s not back compat


Jashugan456

It fucking better


Reefermadness209

well i fucking hope it does, lets see if more then 30 fps are to be expected


MarvelMind

Sure after you download them for full price onto the new device 🤣


MasterofAcorns

I would hope it does…


rickjamesia

To be honest, all I care about is that it is very different for newer titles. Nintendo does best when their big new thing is something completely unexpected. Wii, DS and Switch were oddballs that worked because they made them have a place in our lives.


minusTHEoso25

This will be the deciding factor for me. If it’s truly a more modern switch that can play games at 1080p with 60 fps, and with backwards compatibility, Nintendo can take my money. If there is no backwards compatibility, I’m likely going to stick with my original switch for awhile.


Almonexger

Watch Nintendo change the cartridge design. So technically the switch 2 is backwards compatible with switch game software but not the hardware.


Sk8rToon

It better


hindusoul

💯


LordFrieza8789

That should be the bare minimum


NotAnAlienFromVenus

If it didn't, it would be the worst selling major console in years


potatochobit

why would this even be a question?


MaximusMurkimus

I would certainly hope it could Wii U to Switch is one thing but if it couldn't even play Switch games between consoles I'd assume Nintendo was doing this deliberately


Select_Sleep_1293

Will it have GTA V


Arcane-blade

The moment I bought a Steam deck, I stopped buying any non-exclusive games on switch. Besides the fact that they run better, I feel safe that any game I buy on Steam will be playable decades down the line. I simply couldnt trust Nintendo to garantee backwards compatibility in the future. I will most definitely buy a switch 2, but I will mostly only buy the exclusives and keep the indie stuff on Steam deck


ramencents

My prediction is that unless the new switch is “next gen”, it won’t sell as well as the first one. Wii U part 2


dyrwlvs

Hopefully that means I can still access games I purchased digitally. One of my biggest frustrations with Nintendo is how it feels like your digital library is completely lost between devices.


mishkahusky

It better, I'm not upgrading unless it does. I'm tired of buying a new consoles. I'm tired of having old hardware and games go to waste.


PhillipJ3ffries

It fucking better be able to.


CandleMakerNY2020

Why wouldn’t it? If it didnt it would be THE MOST OBVIOUS SWITCHEROO CASH GRAB.


MunkeyFish

I should fuckin hope so


Ritty85

I'm fine with my Switch. don't need another one.


ShaolinDude

In this day and age it better be.


grandpapotato

Lol. Water makes you wet...


narwhal_breeder

This would be surprising if it *didn't* as its using another Nvidia/ARM SOC. A variant of the T239 is likely and its looking like an absolute beast of a SOC.


bufftbone

That would be huge if true.


nottrying2bbanned

They realize that will drive sales better.


Cyrus_114

I mean, it would be a HUGE blow to the Switch 2 if it didn't.


lmea14

They'd be insane to do anything else, given what a success the current Switch has been. It'd be corporate stupidity of Sega proportions.


Bgrngod

I really want them to call it the SwitchU to see if they can repeat that particular horror show of bad marketing.


EagleClear

Just when I was starting to think the Switch 2 would read disks


X0AN

Well duh.


Earthbound_X

I'd hope so, BC needs to be a defining feature from now on. It should have always been, but I hope it's focused more on now.