Nintendo’s next system is compatible with Nintendo Switch games

By Tomas Franzese Published November 6, 2024

An image of the Nintendo Switch - OLED Model Mario Red Edition. — Nintendo

During its latest financial results, Nintendo revealed some more details about the successor to the Nintendo Switch . Specifically, Nintendo confirmed that people will be able to play their Nintendo Switch games on the new system.

“This is Furukawa. At today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch,” Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday night. “Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.”

Recommended Videos

Nintendo elaborates on this further in the future outlook section of its latest financial results . It explains that “the introduction of Nintendo Account made it possible to tie consumers’ history to their personal account, enabling Nintendo to maintain a continuous relationship with consumers across platform generations.” Essentially, Nintendo’s account system is better structured to transition between console generations than before. While Wii U games like Xenoblade Chronicles X had to be remastered to be playable on the console, now it seems that players will be able to access and download their Nintendo Switch games on the system’s successor as long as they are using the same Nintendo account.

These financial results did not give us more details on other information about Nintendo’s next system, such as its name or release window. Nintendo previously committed to unveiling the successor to Nintendo Switch sometime this fiscal year, and it has given us no reason not to believe that. Now, we must wait for that “later date” that both Furukawa and Nintendo’s financial results referenced to learn more about Nintendo’s next piece of gaming hardware.

A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…

Topics

Gaming

Donkey Kong Bananza drops frames, but that doesn’t mean the Switch 2 is weak

Donkey Kong does a fiery punch in Donkey Kong Bananza.

As I rip a chunk of rock out of the ground and use it to obliterate towers of golden roots or use an explosive rock to shatter an entire cliff face, spawning a cacophony of gold to collect raining down around me in Donkey Kong Bananza, it is impossible to ignore the hit the frame rate takes. In that moment, it almost feels good -- like in the days of the SNES when the game would chug when too many particles were on screen -- and yet in the back of my mind, I knew it would be used as a talking point for the power of the Switch 2.

The original Switch was underpowered from the start, and certainly pushed well beyond its limits in the eight long years it was on the market before the Switch 2. The early years weren't too bad, with Nintendo first party games typically running perfectly fine, but near the end even Tears of the Kingdom started to make the poor Switch buckle. And we don't even need to talk about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The last thing players want to see is the second major release for the system already pushing the console to the limits.

Gaming

How long is Donkey Kong Bananza?

Donkey Kong and Pauline blast the enviornment in Donkey Kong Bananza.,

We only had to wait one month after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch to get our first shiny new 3D platformer. However, it isn't a new Mario game like you might've assumed, but DK taking center stage. Donkey Kong Bananza is all about smashing and digging your way with Pauline to the planet's core while facing off against a cast of villains. Being able to terraform the levels completely changes the pace of a normal platformer, but does it mean you can bypass everything and finish the game in a few hours? What if you are the type of person who wants to get every collectible there is? In either case, you might be surprised at how Donkey Kong Bananza actually is. After playing the game from start to finish, here's how long you can expect to spend playing Donkey Kong Bananza.

How long to beat Donkey Kong Bananza?

Gaming

Donkey Kong Bananza review: breaking the 3D platformer mold

Donkey Kong punching through a crystallized banana in Donkey Kong Bananza.

Buy Now

Right from the title screen, Donkey Kong Bananza made it clear it wasn't going to play by normal 3D platformer rules. I'm not greeted with a traditional menu, but a rock wall and a single button prompting me to smash through. Bananza constantly rewarded me for keeping that mentality in mind and refusing to play by the rules.