Nintendo Switch 2 Does Not Use Switch Hardware for Backwards Compatibility

Nintendo’s Switch 2 will enable players to enjoy Switch games through a form of backwards compatibility, and recently, they’ve shared more insights on how this function operates. During a Q&A with developers, the director of the Switch 2, Takuhiro Dohta, clarified that this backward compatibility isn’t due to the new console incorporating hardware from the initial Switch model.

In a similar fashion as the Nintendo 3DS played games from the DS because it incorporated some of its earlier counterpart’s hardware, and the PS2 utilized embedded PSOne hardware to run older games, Dohta suggests that technical challenges pose difficulties for Nintendo to achieve backwards compatibility in a comparable manner on the Switch 2.

Initially, when we began working on Switch 2, our main concern was improving its performance by increasing its storage capacity. Consequently, ensuring compatibility took a backseat. For instance, games for Nintendo DS could be played on Nintendo 3DS, and Wii games on Wii U, but achieving the same level of compatibility with Switch 2 was challenging due to differences in the hardware design approach compared to those systems.

In addition to his initial remark, Kouichi Kawamoto elaborated on the concept of backward compatibility as it applied to Nintendo’s past gaming systems. Unlike the Switch 2, however, this new console does not incorporate any of the original Switch’s hardware components.

Essentially, Kawamoto explained that the old systems (Nintendo 3DS and Wii U) were compatible because the 3DS had Nintendo DS components and the Wii U had Wii components. But in contrast, there won’t be any Switch hardware in the new system, the hypothetical Switch 2.

On the Switch 2, Dohta explains they’re aiming for a “middle ground” between software emulation and hardware compatibility regarding backwards compatibility. Essentially, this means that the new console can trick a game into believing it’s still on the original Switch, while in reality, the Switch 2 is converting the game’s data in real-time as it’s being played.

Essentially, Nintendo has disclosed that approximately 122 of its own games, as well as over 15,000 third-party games, will be playable on the Switch 2 thanks to backwards compatibility. However, there are some Switch games that might not work with the Switch 2 because they need specific hardware. Games like “1-2-Switch”, “Ring Fit Adventure”, and “Game Builder Garage” could potentially have issues due to differences in the Joy-Con and Joy-Con 2 controllers.

Previously, I’d learned from Dohta that running Switch games on the upcoming Switch 2 would offer enhanced performance and stability due to its powerful hardware. He pointed out that even without purchasing the Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs, gamers would still benefit from an improved gaming experience thanks to features like GameChat on the new console.

In contrast, the Upgrade Packs for the 2nd Edition of Switch provide enhanced experiences for various Switch games such as “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” and “Super Mario Party Jamboree”. These upgrade packs will introduce fresh content in certain games, while others will merely receive performance and resolution enhancements.

According to current plans, the new Nintendo Switch will be released on June 5th. For additional information, take a look at our latest updates from the recent direct presentation.

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2025-04-04 17:11