The Next Nintendo Console will be Backwards Compatible

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa announced in a recent tweet that Nintendo’s next console will be backwards compatible. This means it will be able to play Nintendo Switch games as well as newer titles. According to the full announcement, the introduction of Nintendo Account “made it possible to tie consumers’ history to their personal account, enabling Nintendo to maintain a continuous relationship with the consumers across platform generations.”

Images for Nintendo’s upcoming console successor to the Switch seemingly leaked online in September. The images are allegedly of the factory prototype which were reportedly leaked on Chinese forums and on Reddit. The images align with past rumors and leaks claiming it has an 8-inch LCD screen, a USB-C port, a kickstand, and more.

“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 the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date.”

The full details from the corporate management policy briefing via Gematsu:

• “Until Nintendo Switch, there was no easy way to have consumers’ purchase and gameplay histories carry over across platform generations. As a result, our relationship with the consumers was interrupted when a new system was purchased.”
• “The introduction of Nintendo Account made it possible to tie consumers’ history to their personal account, enabling Nintendo to maintain a continuous relationship with the consumers across platform generations.”
• “We have communicated that we plan on making an announcement regarding the successor to Nintendo Switch during this fiscal year. We believe that it is important for Nintendo’s future to make use of Nintendo Account and carry over the good relationship that we have built with the over 100 million annual playing users on Nintendo Switch to its successor.”
• “Thus, we will make Nintendo Switch Online, a service based on Nintendo Account, available on the successor to Nintendo Switch.”
• “Furthermore, Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch.”
• “In addition to being able to play Nintendo Switch software they currently own, consumers will be able to choose their next purchase from a broad selection of titles released for Nintendo Switch.”
• “Further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch I explained today, will be announced at a later date.”

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