Nintendo Switch 2 Backward Compatibility Explained
Switch 2 lacks perfect backward compatibility due to a hybrid software emulator/hardware compatibility approach.
The compatibility list for Switch games on Switch 2 is constantly changing and may require game updates.
Physical Switch cartridges can be used in the Switch 2, but SD cards from the original Switch won't work.
The Switch 2 is coming. Pre-orders are open (oops, they're sold out!) and everyone is gearing up for Nintendo's latest console to release in June 2025.
Of course, this brings up the important point of what happens with your existing Switch game collection. How backwards compatible is the Switch 2 with original Switch content? Luckily, Nintendo itself has given us just about all the information we need.
The first thing you should know is that the Switch 2 does not have perfect, native compatibility with Switch games. In a developer interview it was revealed that the Switch 2 uses "something that's somewhere in between a software emulator and hardware compatibility."
This is in contrast with, for example, the Nintendo 3DS or Wii consoles. These consoles were able to play games from the previous generation because they contained hardware from those consoles. Similar to how the PlayStation 2 had a PlayStation 1 chip inside to play PS1 games.
This is not the approach taken with the Switch 2. While the new console is still using the same CPU architecture, there's only partial hardware compatibility with the game code, with the rest handled through emulation or compatibility layer methods. We don't know the exact nuts and bolts, but that's the gist of it.
Because there isn't perfect 1:1 hardware compatibility, it means that Switch games are not guaranteed to work on the Switch 2. Nintendo maintains a compatibility list, with this being the state on April 1st, 2025.
This list is being updated as more data becomes available, and I suspect many developers will be patching their Switch games to be more compatible with the Switch 2 as time goes by. However, as it stands, you can't actually replace a Switch with a Switch 2 yet.
While Nintendo and game developers are still trying to crack the nut of compatibility on the software side of the equation, at least the physical hardware for Switch media is compatible. This means that you can take any of your current Switch cartridges, and put them into a Switch 2.
Whether the actual game will run correctly is an open question at this point, but it's good to know that your physical collection might be ported over in principle.
If, like me, you invested in a large and expensive microSD card for your Switch, you may be disappointed to know that you won't have the option of using it on the Switch 2. Instead, the Switch 2 will only work with the more expensive microSD Express standard of cards. This is completely understandable, since standard microSD cards simply aren't fast enough for next-generation Switch 2 games.
However, I think it would have been nice to have the option to keep original Switch games on a standard microSD card, the same way a PlayStation 5 lets you play PS4 games from a USB hard drive. I guess if you have to keep your original Switch to maintain access to all your games, it's a moot point.
If you are planning on getting a Switch 2, it's probably a good idea to invest in a microSD Express card now, since the demand for these cards will likely skyrocket along with prices, once the Switch 2 is selling at full tilt.
While there's no confirmation of this officially, I assume that original Switch games that have unlocked frame rates and dynamic resolution scaling will simply max out those numbers when running on the Switch 2. Likewise, games that suffered from low frame rates which work on Switch 2, will likely now hit their intended frame rate targets. Again, this is unconfirmed, but I think pretty obvious and likely.
However, if you want original Switch games that take full (or near to it) advantage of the new hardware, you'll have to pay for the privilege. These "Switch 2 Edition" versions of games will be sold at full retail price on Switch 2 cartridges. However, if you already own a copy of the game, you can pay a lower upgrade fee. I suspect the upgrade fee will vary by game, but right now it seems that $19.99 is what it will typically cost for a first-party Switch game.
Again, there's no official confirmation of this, but third-party games may charge a different, much lower fee for upgrades. At least, that's what I hope!
What sort of advantages will these Switch 2 editions offer? It's going to vary by game, but we can probably expect better asset quality, much higher resolutions, and options for higher frame rates than were possible before. Based on what I've seen so far, these are essentially light to moderate remasters of these games, so whether the $19.99 fee is worth it will depend on how much you value what's changed in the updated version.
Certainly, for Switch owners with large first-party game collections, it's probably not financially viable to upgrade all your games, especially if you're happy with how they looked and ran before on the OG Switch.
The Switch offers access to classic Nintendo (and Sega!) games through a subscription service, using emulation. This is backwards compatibility of a sort, though I do wish they'd just let us buy the specific games we want rather than putting them behind a subscription fee.
Again, I have no confirmation of this as of this writing, but I suspect all the current systems that are available via emulation on the Switch will also be on the Switch 2. What we do know, is that the Switch 2 will include GameCube emulation, and there's even an official controller for those games you can buy.
Right now, the Switch 2 backwards compatibility situation isn't looking as rosy as I, and many of you, may have hoped. However, it's worth remembering that there were similar doubts about the PlayStation 5 leading up to its release, and by and large it's never been an issue. There are still a few months left before Nintendo's new console arrives as I write this, so here's hoping that the compatibility list shapes up quickly.
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