‘Maybe Happy Ending' Creators Respond To Andrew Barth Feldman Casting Discourse: 'Extremely Saddened'
After Darren Criss, who is of Asian descent, originated the role of Oliver on Broadway following the show's Asian-led run in Seoul, writers Hue Park and Will Aronson responded to recent backlash over the casting of Feldman, who is white.
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'Our dream at the outset was that our allegorical robot show could one day miraculously become part of the American musical theater canon – a modern Fantasticks, able to be comfortably performed by anyone, anywhere – yet distinctly set in Korea,' they explained in a statement on Instagram. 'This went against prevailing wisdom that we needed to set our show in America.'
After the musical's 2016 premiere in Korea and 2024 Broadway premiere, the pair added in part, 'We're extremely saddened that the show, a decade-long labor of love for us, could ever become a source of confusion, anger or pain.'
Park and Aronson concluded that they 'will continue our conversations as Maybe Happy Ending continues its journey onstage.'
Actress Helen J. Shen, who has not yet been confirmed to continue her run as Claire when Feldman takes over for Criss on Sept. 2, also shared a statement.
'I acknowledge that we can't control how the show is received and the impact that it has had,' she wrote on Instagram. 'The vacuum of A/PI stories that don't center around pain or tropes wanted to be filled by our show from our community. I have and continue to be extremely proud to look the way I do and to co-lead this Broadway show. I know the hurt that people feel because growing up, I would have found a beacon of hope in seeing our show on tv on the Tony Awards. A part of me is mourning that along with the community.'
Shen added, 'This has been an immensely challenging moment within my home with Andrew, and in this building filled with A/PI folks to say the least. I don't know what's forward, but to have this opportunity to play opposite my favorite actor in the world for 9 weeks, who happens to be PERFECT for the role is a huge moment of joy for me. Every perspective on this situation contains truth.'
Maybe Happy Ending follows Oliver and Claire, two life-like robots who develop a commection in late 21st century Seoul. After its Broadway debut, the show won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Criss.
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Chicago Tribune
30 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Review: A full-throated ‘Parade' marches into the CIBC Theatre with a fresh emphasis on human fragility
All these years of reviewing Broadway productions followed by first national tours of the same title have taught me that the casts that take to the road often are the better of the two. Why? First, because musicals on Broadway have to worry too much about stars, Instagram followings and a host of other political factors, as well as the artistry. Second, because directors and casting directors typically don't know who is really right, or wrong, for a role until after the production is up and running. And, third, because Broadway shows have ensemble members and understudies who not only study the show night after night and figure out its artistry and mechanics but often were always better than the leads anyway. When they move up on a tour, they can be quite astonishing. I'm only talking about Equity shows and first tours here, not tired bus and trucks or cheapened one-nighters. And this only applies when the original director and other artists are actually involved in the tour, which is not always the case. If you see 'restaged by' on the program title page, watch out. But for 'Parade,' which is a magnificent tour featuring far more organic and high-quality singing and acting than the nonetheless award-winning 2023 Broadway revival, all of that applies. Spectacularly so. Director Michael Arden clearly is still in charge. And I've seen enough of Jason Robert Brown in a rehearsal room over the years to know he does not mess around when performers are working on his music (I went all the way to Green Bay, Wisconsin, 25 years ago to see the first tour of 'Parade' and found Brown in the pit, conducting his own score). All of that is self-evident at the CIBC Theatre, where I really can't praise the two lead performers, Max Chernin and Talia Suskauer, highly enough. Not only is their singing glorious (as is that of many others in this cast, including, especially Ramone Nelson, Trevor James and Robert Knight), but the two performers essaying the married couple of Leo and Lucille Frank have both a self-obfuscating humility and a rigorous lack of sentimentality encapsulated in their performances. That's crucial to the telling of this somber, real-life story of a Jewish pencil factory manager in 1913 Atlanta who was first accused of murdering one of his young workers. He was railroaded at his sensationalized trial by the smoldering antisemitism founded in the South in the first decades of the 20th century and then lynched by a mob. Alfred Uhry's 1998 book took enormous pains to avoid obvious melodrama and while it would go much too far to suggest that the show claims Frank was complicit in his own injustice, it does make very clear that his personality, his chilly remove, his myopia, sure didn't help. As a result, 'Parade' gains a genuinely tragic patina; you leave the theater not just with a renewed sense of the constant ubiquity of ignorance and evil but also of people ill-equipped to understand even the most basic of facts. Even about themselves. Chernin makes that very clear. And although Suskauer is playing a woman who truly loves her husband, she also makes clear the cost of her husband's wound-tight self-sufficiency on what Lucille had hoped for in her marriage. One watches loyalty undercut by personal disappointment. Most importantly, thanks to these performances, you see both of these characters change and evolve, which I did not think was the case on Broadway. Playwrights were more likely to see the importance of forging such complexity in 1998 than I now usually find to be the case, but then the late Uhry ('Driving Miss Daisy') was a masterful and sometimes under-appreciated writer. And he came from Atlanta himself, so he knew the kinds of characters he was writing about here. Like all shows, 'Parade,' which has been seen several times in Chicago since its creation, beginning at the now-defunct Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in 2004, is subject to the precise moment at which it is experienced. When it comes to issues of antisemitism, the world has changed drastically even since the Broadway revival opened in March 2023. The themes of 'Parade,' have, to say the least, intensified. Saying shows feel newly relevant now is a cliche best avoided in theater reviews, unless unavoidable. (As here). But I think Arden's direction has changed, too. On Broadway, the just post-COVID-19 revival felt nervous of causing offense and ended up pandering in places to those easy, stereotypical views of the South. The scrunched design is the same and I still have my issues there. But this time, everything about the show is far subtler, more balanced and far richer in nuance. Although it sounds counterintuitive, that actually means its revelations of the consequences of fear of the other are all the more impactful, all the more devastating. Rodgers and Hammerstein understood this years ago. Brown and Uhry, too. One last note. Major tours like this of serious, analog musicals emphasizing lyric singing and potent characterizations are being squeezed by jukebox shows, digital spectacles, 90-minute kiddie pop and those that feature branded, music industry names. The road is far tougher post-COVID-19. If you support the idea of these pieces in Chicago, it behoves you to go and see the rewards for yourself. Two weeks only. Review: 'Parade' (4 stars) When: Through Aug. 17 Where: CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes Tickets: $35-$125 at 312-977-1700 and
Black America Web
2 hours ago
- Black America Web
‘Always Work On Your Next Move'—Kandi Burruss Talks Leaving ‘Housewives,' Broadway Wins, And Her Mogul Mindset
Source: MorrisDe Photography / MorrisDe Photography Crossposted from Last year, Kandi Burruss turned the page on her iconic 14-season run on The Real Housewives of Atlanta —announcing she would not return for Season 16. That said, she's as busy as ever. The multihyphenate mogul keeps a full plate, with no shortage of projects in motion. By now, Kandi's expansive body of work speaks for itself. She's a multiplatinum, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, TV personality, actress, restaurateur, and Tony-nominated Broadway producer. Her impact on the culture resonates through music, television, and now the world of theater. Whether she's in the spotlight or behind the scenes, one thing fuels her staying power—Kandi is a phenomenal businesswoman. She spoke with iOne Digital from Atlanta to reflect on life after Housewives , her passion for Broadway, and the mantra guiding her journey. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. This fall, Burruss will receive the Wifetime Achievement Award at BravoCon in Las Vegas, celebrating her enduring run on the Housewives franchise. It's a fitting tribute marking the end of an era she helped define. 'Walking away from something that you had been a part of for 14 seasons is not easy, you know? But I feel good about my decision,' she said. 'I took the leap of faith to say, okay, that part of my life is behind me.' Source: MorrisDe Photography / MorrisDe Photography Despite leaving the show, Burruss is still in the mix, appearing on Bravo's Next Gen NYC alongside her daughter, Riley Burruss. 'I'm really excited for her. I've been doing my best to guide her hard-headed behind,' the mom of three said with a laugh. As for her advice to 22-year-old Riley—who stars alongside other twenty-somethings navigating young adulthood in New York City—Kandi kept it simple, 'Whatever you say, whatever you do—just stand on it. There's nothing you can do that'll make me not love you and support you. Just be a woman of integrity. Don't let them roll the tapes back on you, showing you lying! I've never been that person, and I don't want you to be that person.' Since stepping away from RHOA , Burruss hasn't slowed down, with little time to reflect. She'd braced herself for 'FOMO' (fear of missing out) once the new season began airing. 'But what helped is that I always have a lot going on,' she said. 'I didn't feel like I was missing out because I had other things to keep my mind occupied.' While the show was filming in 2024, Kandi was on the road with Xscape and SWV for the 30-city Queens of R&B Tour . That same year, she joined the production team for the record-breaking Broadway revival of Othello , starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Broadway has become another space where Kandi thrives. Before Othello , Burruss co-produced the 2024 revival of the beloved classic, The Wiz , another standout success in her producing journey. RELATED CONTENT: Othello's Opening Night Brings Black Hollywood's Finest To Broadway: See Style Gallery Source: MorrisDe Photography / MorrisDe Photography A theater kid at heart, Burruss fell in love with the stage early on. She graduated from Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia—the starting point for a long list of famed alumni including André 3000, Big Boi, Kenan Thompson, and her fellow Xscape members Tameka 'Tiny' Harris, Tamika Scott, and LaTocha Scott-Bivens, to name a few. 'My love for theater happened in my high school years. I always felt like this is something that I wanted to do.' Other Tri-Cities graduates who made their mark on Broadway—like actress and singer Saycon Sengbloh and sound designer Justin Ellington (who worked on Othello )—inspired Kandi to 'really go after it' in recent years. Kandi made her Broadway debut in 2018, playing Mama Morton in Chicago . During the pandemic, she shifted behind the scenes as a producer on Thoughts of a Colored Man . 'I just wanted to be back in that world,' she said. 'Every business that I've been a part of, I start off as one of the talent—but I'm always curious about how the behind the scenes work.' She went on to co-produce The Piano Lesson , earning a Tony nomination in 2023 for Best Revival of a Play. Burruss understands the power of her platform and how to connect with audiences—not only as a performer, but as a producer. By drawing on her wide-reaching fanbase, she's helping usher new patrons into Broadway venues that haven't always felt inclusive. 'I've seen the audience change from when I first started,' she said, reflecting on the mostly white ticketholders who'd fill the seats. 'But now, a lot of people in the crowd are people of color, Black people. It's so cool to see so many people—and not just from New York—flying in from everywhere to come and support our shows.' Source: MorrisDe Photography / MorrisDe Photography With a constant flow of ventures in her ecosystem, Burruss is always thinking several steps ahead. 'I realized a long time ago that you could be on top of the world, but as soon as you take your foot off the pedal, people will be like, 'Oh, they used to be so dope.'' Her cousin had a saying, 'Well, used-to-bee's don't make no honey, so don't nobody care what you used to be .' Kandi laughed, 'She wasn't trying to be mean, but she don't know how her words stuck!' It's this mindset that keeps the mogul moving forward. 'Always work on your next move while you're in your current move. If you look at the past decade or so, I'm always working on something, trying to figure out how to make the next opportunity. Being a Black woman in any business, you don't want to wait for somebody to give opportunity to you. It's better when you can make the opportunity.' With her legacy in motion, she's not done yet. Already a Grammy winner with Tony and Emmy nods under her belt, she's got her eye on achieving EGOT status—a rare distinction for those who've won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. 'My dream is definitely attainable if I keep going,' she affirmed. As Kandi embraces this new chapter, she continues to shape culture not just by showing up—but by building the stage itself. 'Always Work On Your Next Move'—Kandi Burruss Talks Leaving 'Housewives,' Broadway Wins, And Her Mogul Mindset was originally published on
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
I play a ton of Nintendo Switch 2. Here's how it beats the Nintendo Switch 1
The Nintendo Switch 2 is an excellent successor to the original Nintendo Switch 1, delivering significant upgrades that include 4K gaming, a bigger and better design, and a solid selection of exclusive games that should only get better over time. But it's also very much a Nintendo Switch, one that might look and feel incredibly familiar for anyone who's spent significant time with the company's mega-popular handheld and home console hybrid that's been around since 2017. With that said, is the Switch 2 truly worth the upgrade if you already have the OG Nintendo Switch? And if you're buying your first modern Nintendo console in a while, do you really need the newest, most expensive one? Fortunately, I've logged a frankly irresponsible amount of time on both systems over the past eight years and am here to make those decisions easy for you. Here are the key differences between the Switch and Switch 2 — as well as some surprising similarities — to keep in mind before you buy. Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades the wildly popular hybrid console with 4K gaming capabilities, more storage, a bigger design and a growing library of exclusive games. Nintendo Switch Console With Neon Red and Blue Joy-Con The original Nintendo Switch provides access to one of the best gaming libraries of all time, complete with the ability to game on your TV at 1080p or on the go at 720p. TV, tabletop, handheld TV, tabletop, handheld TV, tabletop, handheld Handheld 7.9-inch, 1920 x 1080 LCD screen 7-inch, 1280 x 720 OLED screen 6.2-inch, 1280 x 720 LCD screen 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 LCD screen Up to 4K, HDR10 support Up to 1080p Up to 1080p N/A 256GB, expandable via microSD Express 64GB, expandable via microSD 32GB, expandable via microSD 32GB, expandable via microSD 2 to 6.5 hours 4.5 to 9 hours 4.5 to 9 hours 3 to 7 hours All Nintendo Switch 2 games, most Nintendo Switch games All Nintendo Switch games All Nintendo Switch games Most Nintendo Switch games The Nintendo Switch 2 is effectively a souped-up Nintendo Switch, offering a familiar design that's bigger and better than what came before in almost every way. Its magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers are much easier to attach and detach than the original Switch Joy-Con with their sliding lock mechanism, and their larger all-around buttons make both handheld and single Joy-Con gaming much more satisfying. The new console's full-width kickstand is a massive upgrade over the laughable gumstick-sized stand on the OG Switch, though it's not a huge difference from the improved stand on the Switch OLED. One upgrade I love is the additional, top-facing USB-C port, which is great for connecting a camera or charging the Switch 2 while playing in tabletop mode. Perhaps the most noticeable and obvious hardware difference is the Switch 2's 7.9-inch display, which is significantly bigger (and a bit sharper) than every Switch screen that's come before it. It'll be a major upgrade for anyone coming from the Switch or Switch Lite, though Switch OLED owners may feel a bit more mixed. The Switch 2's LCD display doesn't have the same rich pop of color or sharp contrast as the Switch OLED screen, nor is it quite as bright. This stood out to me at first, but now that I've lived with the Switch 2 for a few months, I can't say I'm missing OLED all that much. Having a bigger and sharper screen (1080p up from 720p) really does make a difference, and Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza still look beautiful on LCD — even if I occasionally wish the colors were a little more vibrant. And considering that the Switch 2 can play games in gorgeous 4K resolution while docked to a TV (the older Switch is limited to 1080p in TV mode) — something I'll dive in to more in a minute — I can live with this trade-off while playing on the go. The Switch 2's increased dimensions come with one other caveat: It's not very comfortable to hold for long stretches. I found my hands cramping pretty quickly while playing in handheld mode, something I was only able to alleviate after picking up this great Mumba Clear Case that adds some extra grip. And while the Joy-Con 2 aren't the most ergonomic out of the box, the system at least never got overly hot during long play sessions. But those with especially small hands (and no big attachment to having the latest tech) should consider the standard Switch or the especially compact Switch Lite for frequent on-the-go play. Side note: The Nintendo Switch Lite is still the most aesthetically pleasing Switch and arguably still the best option for any little ones in your life. Nintendo should make a Switch Lite 2, and I wouldn't be surprised if it did. On paper, the Switch 2's 256GB of internal storage is a major upgrade from the 32GB to 64GB you'll find on older models. But considering how huge some Switch 2 games are (Cyberpunk 2077 alone takes up about 64GB), you'll still want to pick up some external storage. This brings us to another caveat. The Switch 2 only works with microSD Express cards, the newer and more advanced version of this popular memory format you can use on your other Switch consoles. MicroSD Express cards are a bit pricier and harder to find at the moment, which adds some notable expense to what's already the priciest Nintendo console. When it comes to aesthetic variety and customization, the Switch 1 wins by a landslide for the time being. The Switch and Switch OLED are sold with various Joy-Con color options, and there's a massive ecosystem of first- and third-party Joy-Cons that truly let you make your Switch look and feel how you want it to. There's also a plethora of gorgeous limited-edition Switch models for those able to track them down. The Nintendo Switch 2 is currently limited to a plain black model with subtle red and blue highlights, though considering Nintendo's love for constantly launching new accessories, we suspect that'll change over time. Spoiler alert: The Nintendo Switch 2 is a lot more powerful than the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo's newest console is still a far cry from the blazing speeds and ultra-rich visuals of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but it's a noticeable leap from its predecessor — and one that just makes for an overall more pleasant gaming experience. Forget the fact that the Switch 2 finally brings Nintendo into the 4K gaming era. You know what really excites me? Loading times. From firing up massive games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to simply opening up the Nintendo eShop, everything loaded up significantly faster during my side-by-side tests between the Switch OLED and Switch 2. That saved time adds up when you're trying to squeeze in as many quests as possible on a short train ride. The Switch 2 also pumps out notably crisp visuals in both TV and handheld mode, offering up to 4K when you connect to a TV and 1080p on the go. That's a nice bump from the Switch and Switch OLED, which top off at 1080p on a TV and 720p in handheld (the Switch Lite is handheld only and can't be used with a TV at all). On top of that, the Switch 2 can deliver frame rates of up to 120 frames per second, an ultra-smooth level of motion that was previously reserved for powerful PCs and the latest high-end consoles. We've yet to see many games utilize 120 frames per second yet, but it does future-proof the Switch 2 quite well. While the Switch 2's performance and visuals are a clear step up from the original, battery life is a mixed bag. The Switch 2 is rated for two to six and a half hours of battery life, depending on what you're playing, which is actually the lowest battery estimate Nintendo gives for any of its Switch consoles. These numbers have mostly been consistent with my own use, though the Switch 2 isn't quite as far behind the pack as the ratings would suggest. To get a sense of how long each Switch console lasts under similar play conditions, I fired up Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and set up an endless eight-fighter brawl at full brightness and all possible settings cranked up for maximum chaos. The Switch 2 petered out at just under four hours, which doesn't quite beat the Switch OLED (four hours, 50 minutes) but manages to squeak by the 2019 Switch (three hours, 50 minutes) and topples the original 2017 model (two hours, 45 minutes). Of course, your own battery life experience will vary wildly based on what you're playing and how old your console is, but it's worth keeping these numbers in mind when picking a model. My advice? You should be keeping a good portable charger handy no matter which Nintendo Switch you pick up. If you ignored the rest of this guide and scrolled all the way here, well … I wouldn't blame you. You ultimately buy a console to play games, and the main reason to upgrade to a Nintendo Switch 2 is to play the fancy new titles that aren't coming to your dusty old Switch 1. The Nintendo Switch 2 plays virtually every original Nintendo Switch game in addition to its growing assortment of Switch 2 exclusives. Nintendo's compatibility page features a small list of titles with known issues on Switch 2, as well as a handful of games that'll require your old Switch Joy-Con (like Ring Fit Adventure and Nintendo Switch Sports) since they were made specifically for those older controllers. But the vast majority of your existing Switch collection will work great on Switch 2; heck, some of them will run even better than before, thanks to free updates to titles like Super Mario Odyssey, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and Splatoon 3. The current list of exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 games is relatively small but already strong. You've got the expansive multiplayer racing of Mario Kart World and the delightfully smashing platforming of Donkey Kong Bananza — a true pair of instant Nintendo classics to start this new generation. Then there are the big third-party blockbusters like Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6 and WWE 2K25, which finally give Nintendo gamers a chance to experience some of the biggest hits that were once exclusive to other consoles and PCs. Looking further out, you can expect new Zelda, Splatoon and Kirby games, as well as a big exclusive from the Dark Souls team called The Duskbloods. There are also special Nintendo Switch 2 editions of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Party Jamboree, which feature both enhanced visuals and new features. You can upgrade to these new versions for a small fee or get the upgrades for free as part of your Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. And you should, because getting to finally play a modern Zelda in 4K at a smooth 60 frames per second really is something. The Switch 2 also has a small advantage for retro gamers. All Switch owners can dive into a big library of Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games (the latter few require Nintendo's higher-end subscription), though only Switch 2 owners can access the newer GameCube collection that includes such hits as Soul Calibur II and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. That said, if you decide to save some cash and pick up an old Switch (or hold out on upgrading), you won't exactly be hurting for things to play. The 12,000-plus games available on the Nintendo Switch include some of the greatest titles of all time, from Nintendo essentials like Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Metroid Dread and Animal Crossing: New Horizons; must-have indies like Hades and Balatro; and the best of top franchises like Doom and Minecraft. Nintendo isn't stopping support for the original Switch anytime soon either. Hotly anticipated Nintendo titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon: Legends Z-A are coming to both Switch consoles (just keep in mind that previous Pokémon titles have had performance issues on Switch 1), and plenty of big-name third-party games from the Dragon Ball and Sonic franchises are still on the way. And once you're ready to move to a Switch 2, all those games will come with you, some of which will have optional upgrades to make them perform even better. If you're a big online gamer, the Switch 2 is for you. One of the system's biggest upgrades is its GameChat feature, which lets you finally voice chat with friends directly from your console, whether you're playing together or each doing your own thing. You can even hop on video (via either the Nintendo Switch 2 camera or any standard USB webcam you have handy) or share your screen to show off your Mario Kart skills or get help navigating a tricky Zelda dungeon. All this communication happens via the Switch 2's built-in microphone, so you don't even need a dedicated mic or headset to start chatting. By contrast, Switch 1 gamers will have to use some external tools to talk to their friends during Splatoon wars or Smash Bros. brawls. You can use Nintendo's own official Nintendo Switch Online app for your iOS or Android device, or go with a third-party option like the popular Discord app. I much prefer the latter, as it's far less limited, easier to use and not tied to a subscription. Also, the Switch 2's on-screen chat overlay looks a lot like a Discord call, so Nintendo's twist isn't exactly unique. You would think that buying an older Switch means spending less money. And you'd be correct, though recent price changes have blurred the lines a bit. In August 2025, Nintendo raised prices on all original Switch hardware due to 'market conditions,' bumping the Nintendo Switch Lite from $200 to $230, the standard Nintendo Switch from $300 to $340 and the Nintendo Switch OLED from $350 to $400. Considering the OLED model is only $50 less than a Nintendo Switch 2, the vast majority of people are better off just spending a little more for Nintendo's latest. That said, there are a few good reasons to go retro. Even the price-bumped Switch Lite and Switch are still significantly less expensive than the Switch 2, and as of this writing, stores such as Best Buy and Amazon are still selling the old consoles at their original pricing. And I'll continue to champion the Switch Lite as a great option for kids, especially since the other models have more moving (i.e. breakable) parts. It's worth noting that while the Nintendo Switch 2 is staying at its $450 starting price, Nintendo mentions in its pricing update that 'price adjustments may be necessary in the future.' Additionally, certain Nintendo Switch 2 accessories including the Joy-Con 2 and Switch 2 Pro Controller have seen a $5 price bump. So, what's actually different about the Nintendo Switch 2? You get a bigger design and display, better performance, an improved online experience and a pretty great handful of exclusive games that the original Switch can't run. It's the best Nintendo console out right now, and whether you're upgrading or getting your first-ever Switch, you're likely going to find a lot to love about it. That's not to say the OG Nintendo Switch doesn't hold any value in 2025. The classic Switch grants you access to one of the absolute greatest game libraries of all time, and it's one that's still set to get some big new releases before Nintendo sunsets the first-generation model for good. And even factoring in price bumps, it's a more affordable entry point into modern Nintendo gaming and a great option for youngsters or the extremely gaming-casual among us. The Switch 2 is still in its infancy, so there's no harm in waiting a bit for more big games to arrive. And once you are ready to upgrade, nearly all your games and gear can come with you. Can a Nintendo Switch 2 play Nintendo Switch 1 games? Can a Nintendo Switch 2 play Nintendo Switch 1 games? Yep! Almost all Nintendo Switch games work on the Nintendo Switch 2. Some titles, like 1-2 Switch and Ring Fit Adventure, will require you to use your older Joy-Con controllers, and a handful of others have known compatibility issues that are being worked on. But most of your favorite titles will work on the new system just fine. Will Nintendo Switch 1 controllers work on a Nintendo Switch 2? Will Nintendo Switch 1 controllers work on a Nintendo Switch 2? Also yes. Pretty much any wireless Switch 1 controller will work on your Switch 2, including the classic Joy-Cons and the original Pro Controller. Same goes for many wired options, such as those from PowerA. Some third-party Switch 1 controllers, such as those from 8BitDo, may require a firmware update before they work on Switch 2, though. Are the Nintendo Switch 2 or the Nintendo Switch 1 HDMI compatible? Are the Nintendo Switch 2 or the Nintendo Switch 1 HDMI compatible? Yes, the Switch 2 and Switch both connect to your TV via HDMI. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been covering gaming for more than a decade and has been writing tested reviews of Nintendo consoles since the Nintendo 3DS (which is still in his top five consoles). He's currently obsessed with chasing high scores in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 and chasing even bigger bananas in Donkey Kong Bananza.
