Lack of backwards compatibility to the previous generation has usually followed from a change in media format, and even then there has been a willingness to make an effort (the DS with its two slots being the prime example). Backwards compatibility seems to be a good way to ensure a wide selection of games at launch, and the negative aspect (not being able to sell the re-releases of the same games yet again to those desperate enough) seems to be outweighed by the positive (availability of games at launch; maintained interest in games from previous generation).
There’s no real reason for Switch cartridges to grow any smaller, and I doubt they’ll go back to discs. So I would say there’s a pretty good chance of backward compatibility.
@WestyFlyer With how long first party games are taking to bring to market these days, it almost has to be backwards compatible, just for the sake of having a playable library at launch.
The Switch will be my last Nintendo console for a long while if they don’t make at least the digital library backwards compatible.
I’ll save my money for Valve’s Steam Deck 2 (when it comes) in that case.
I mostly play portable anyway.
I’m guessing it will be backwards compatible. The Wii, Wii U, DS, and 3DS all had backwards compatibility, and the only reason the Switch didn’t is because it has a vastly different architecture from the Wii U (and no space for a disk drive). I can’t imagine that the Switch 2’s architecture will be vastly different from the Switch, and they’ll both presumably use cartridges, so I’d say there’s a very good chance of backwards compatibility.
Assuming it’s built on the same Tegra line of chips, there could be issues with back compat according to MVG. But there are ways around that that Nintendo could take, and they have a lot of incentive to make it backwards compatibile
100.0%. There is just no benefit whatsoever to rocking that boat. The Switch is a converted Android gizmo, ARM is still the only sane answer for high-performance mobile platforms, and their video hardware is from the company that bought ARM. To say nothing of the PR shitstorm it would be to slice their market in half.
That said, you’ll still have to buy Virtual Console games separately, because Nintendo.
What are the chances it’s backwards compatible with Switch games? Digital and physical?
50%
Either it is.
Or it isn’t.
Think of it like a dice roll: You either roll or 6, or you don’t, so basically it’s 50/50.
Let’s look at the track record.
Backwards compatible handhelds:
Home consoles:
Not backwards compatible:
Lack of backwards compatibility to the previous generation has usually followed from a change in media format, and even then there has been a willingness to make an effort (the DS with its two slots being the prime example). Backwards compatibility seems to be a good way to ensure a wide selection of games at launch, and the negative aspect (not being able to sell the re-releases of the same games yet again to those desperate enough) seems to be outweighed by the positive (availability of games at launch; maintained interest in games from previous generation).
There’s no real reason for Switch cartridges to grow any smaller, and I doubt they’ll go back to discs. So I would say there’s a pretty good chance of backward compatibility.
@WestyFlyer With how long first party games are taking to bring to market these days, it almost has to be backwards compatible, just for the sake of having a playable library at launch.
The Switch will be my last Nintendo console for a long while if they don’t make at least the digital library backwards compatible. I’ll save my money for Valve’s Steam Deck 2 (when it comes) in that case. I mostly play portable anyway.
It’s Nintendo so they will probably try to get you to pay for Mario Cart again
I’m guessing it will be backwards compatible. The Wii, Wii U, DS, and 3DS all had backwards compatibility, and the only reason the Switch didn’t is because it has a vastly different architecture from the Wii U (and no space for a disk drive). I can’t imagine that the Switch 2’s architecture will be vastly different from the Switch, and they’ll both presumably use cartridges, so I’d say there’s a very good chance of backwards compatibility.
Assuming it’s built on the same Tegra line of chips, there could be issues with back compat according to MVG. But there are ways around that that Nintendo could take, and they have a lot of incentive to make it backwards compatibile
100.0%. There is just no benefit whatsoever to rocking that boat. The Switch is a converted Android gizmo, ARM is still the only sane answer for high-performance mobile platforms, and their video hardware is from the company that bought ARM. To say nothing of the PR shitstorm it would be to slice their market in half.
That said, you’ll still have to buy Virtual Console games separately, because Nintendo.
Nvidia didn’t buy ARM
Nvidia’s acquisition of ARM never actually went through.