Nintendo Switch 2 Backward Compatibility: What You Need to Know
The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to revolutionize the gaming industry with its impressive specs and features. One of the most significant advantages of the new console is its backward compatibility with Switch 1 games. According to PCMag, the Switch 2 has near-complete backward compatibility with Switch 1 games, including both physical copies and digital downloads.
Over 15,000 Switch games, including 122 first-party Nintendo games, have been tested on the Switch 2. Of those, only a single game, Nintendo Labo VR Kit, won’t work on the new console. However, other Switch 1 titles have "start-up issues" (114), suffer "in-game compatibility issues" (46), or have unspecified "issues that are planned to be addressed by launch or shortly after" (49). PCMag reports that Nintendo has revealed this information on its Switch 2 game compatibility page.
How to Play Compatible Switch 1 Games on the Switch 2
Playing compatible Switch 1 games on the Switch 2 is straightforward. You can simply pop physical titles, whether they’re game cards or game-key cards, into the Switch 2’s card slot and begin playing. For digital games, you can re-download them from the Nintendo eShop. Assuming the stated compatibility is accurate, this means you can play a huge number of releases as soon as you get your Switch 2, including popular titles like Kirby and the Forgotten Land and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Which Switch 1 Games Won’t Work on Switch 2?
Six titles are classified as "software that cannot be used on Nintendo Switch 2," and five of them are apps. These include AbemaTV, Crunchyroll, Hulu, InkyPen, and Niconico. The only game that won’t work is Nintendo Labo VR Kit, which is a big surprise since other Labo kits are Switch 2 compatible. The reason for this incompatibility is due to the Switch 2’s larger screen, which means it won’t fit into the cardboard shell, and the lenses won’t properly align.
Will Switch 1 Games Requiring the Joy-Con Work on Switch 2?
You’d think that games requiring the Joy-Con would be incompatible with the Switch 2, but it turns out that’s not the case. Titles like Labo, Ring-Fit Adventure, and WarioWare: Move can still be played on the Switch 2, but you need to pair the Switch 1 Joy-Con instead of the Switch 2 Joy-Con. This means you can continue your Ring Fit Adventure workouts, Labo cardboard craft activities, and Game Builder Garage projects on the Switch 2.
10 Hot Switch 1 Games With Switch 2 Compatibility Issues
While over 15,000 Switch games are compatible with the Switch 2, some popular titles have issues. PCMag highlights 10 notable games with compatibility issues:
- Fortnite: Currently has issues, but a fix is planned to be addressed by or shortly after launch.
- Rocket League: Has start-up issues.
- Warframe: Has start-up issues.
- Doom Eternal: Has issues that are planned to be addressed by or shortly after launch.
- Pizza Tower: Has issues that are planned to be addressed by or shortly after launch.
- Dead by Daylight: Has start-up issues.
- Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection: Has in-game compatibility issues.
- Mega Man Legacy Collection: Has in-game compatibility issues.
- Nier Automata: The End of YoRHa Edition: Has start-up issues.
- The Jackbox Party Pack/Party Pack 2: Has issues that are planned to be addressed by or shortly after launch.
Conclusion
The Nintendo Switch 2’s backward compatibility with Switch 1 games is a significant advantage for gamers. While some games have compatibility issues, PCMag reports that over 15,000 games are compatible, and many popular titles will work seamlessly on the new console. As the Switch 2 prepares to launch, gamers can look forward to playing their favorite Switch 1 games on the new system, with some minor adjustments and fixes expected to be addressed shortly after launch.
According to PCMag, Will Greenwald, Lead Analyst, Consumer Electronics, has been covering the gaming industry for over 10 years and has reviewed over a thousand different consumer electronics products. His expertise in the field provides valuable insights into the Switch 2’s backward compatibility and its implications for gamers.
