When Nintendo announced the Switch was getting a successor, one of the biggest questions people had about the system was whether backwards compatibility was included.
After all, the original Switch has an amazing lineup of games, ranging from Super Mario Odyssey and Super Smash Bros Ultimate, to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Tears of the Kingdom. As a result, it’d be a huge blow for Nintendo if the next console’s library had to start from scratch, and kill off all the momentum the Switch gained as a result.
Fortunately, it seems that’s not the case. Why? Because earlier today, Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa announced that Nintendo Switch games would be playable on the new system, and that it’d support Nintendo Switch Online too. Here’s his original statement from the Japanese Nintendo Twitter account:
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 Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about…
— 任天堂株式会社（企業広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) November 6, 2024
So yeah, it’s officially confirmed. The Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, and support Nintendo Switch Online. Seems Nintendo won’t be lacking for games or services this time around!
Source:
Nintendo Statement About Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility (Twitter)