Nintendo confirms Switch 2 console will have the feature gamers are 'begging' for

Nintendo has revealed the Switch 2, the successor to its hybrid-portable console from 2017. Bringing a bunch of new features to the table, there's one particular inclusion that gamers are extremely happy about.

When a new console comes out, there's always the worry that the games you've spent hundreds of pounds on aren't going to work on the new hardware. Thankfully, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will be compatible with most games already available for the Switch.

This means games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Pokemon: Sword & Shield will all likely work perfectly on the new hardware when it releases this year. It won't matter if you own the game physically or digitally, either, as Nintendo has confirmed that anything purchased on the eShop will be compatible with the Switch 2.

It's worth mentioning that while original Switch games will work on the new console, there will be some new games coming out that will only work on the Nintendo Switch 2. We don't know what those are yet, or how those games will be different from the rest.

Fans are already singing the praises for Nintendo's decision to be clear and upfront about backwards compatibility in the YouTube comments of the reveal trailer. "The fact that they said specifically physical and digital games are compatible and they showed a date for a direct is amazing," says one gamer.

Another fan agrees, saying: "That confirmation of both physical and digital backwards compatibility was VERY smart on Nintendo's part." Fans are clearly over the moon that they'll have an extensive library of games to play on their new console the day they get it.

However, there's a small disclaimer that fans should be wary of. In the Switch 2 trailer, there's a note that explains: "Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be support on or full compatible with Nintendo Switch 2."

While we can safely assume that big first-party titles from Nintendo will almost certainly work on the new Switch, that's not necessarily a given for smaller indie games. We'll have to wait and see whether there's a certification process that takes place for existing games that work on Nintendo Switch 2.

However, one commenter on YouTube points out that the disclaimer might just be for the more niche, motion enabled games that required the specific hardware measurements of the original console. "I assume the 'some games may not be compatible' will probably involve things like Labo, since that relies on the use of the original size tablet and controllers," writes the gamer.

Another game that fits into this category is Ring Fit, which came with an exercise resistance wheel with a slot to fit the original Switch's controller. The Switch 2 is considerably larger, so the new hardware won't fit in these types of accessories.

We'll learn more information about backwards compatibility when Nintendo discusses the Switch 2 in more depth on April 4, 2025. At least for now, we can be safe in the knowledge that the vast majority of our game libraries will be coming with us into the next generation of Nintendo hardware.