in

More proof of backwards compatible Switch 2 has been uncovered

Switch 2 OLED

The official announcement of Nintendo Switch 2 is likely coming soon, but that hasn’t stopped data miners from finding info that may confirm backwards compatibility.

Several leaks have come out regarding Nintendo’s upcoming console. Some show how the console will look, while others disclose upcoming games. While some fans are waiting for an official announcement, that’s getting silly at this point. Plenty of information has come out from Nintendo and its partners; just not with any fanfare or YouTube showcases attached to them. 

The latest demonstration of this is a data mine of the Nintendo Switch 18.0.0 firmware, which suggests the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with the original Switch. This could ensure that the current Switch libraries work on the new console as well, the same way PlayStation 4 games work on the PlayStation 5. Another leak also suggests that Switch 2 will auto-upscale and render older games at a higher resolution. 

Will Switch 2 have backwards compatibility?

Multiple data mines have uncovered evidence showing that the Switch 2 will have backwards compatibility with Switch games.

The results of the data mine were posted on the Famiboards forum. The user reports that the latest Nintendo Switch firmware, version 18.0.0, includes a new mount point type. A mount point is a file system or directory that is linked to another file system. Simply put, a mount point is a way of reading game files. The new type of mount point is classified as “compat.”

The exact use case is unclear as the current Switch doesn’t utilize the new mount point. However, it indicates that Nintendo is working on backward compatibility for the Nintendo Switch 2. The new system will allow Switch 2 to run a new, better version of old games. The inclusion also aligns with reports that Nintendo will use an altered version of the existing Switch OS on the new system. 

Is Switch 2 backward compatibility important?

The Nintendo Switch 2’s backward compatibility is highly important to current Switch owners, as it will let them transfer their game library to the new console. 

Nintendo Switch 2 is rumored to be an incremental upgrade to the wildly successful Switch console, but plenty of games on the current Switch struggle to run smoothly. Open-world games, even first-party ones like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, have suboptimal performance. With Switch 2’s better and more powerful processing, older games have the capacity to run better, finally delivering a smooth experience. 

The Switch has been around for a while, and most Switch gamers have amassed a substantial game library. A way to upgrade to better hardware while retaining the library is critical in early adoption. Switch 2 could still use the game cartridge system with a better reader to enhance loading times. How Nintendo tackles it remains to be seen

Written by Bilawal Bashir

Bilawal is a software engineer who loves video games, comic books, and anime. But he will never love pineapple on pizza. In over two decades of gaming, he has only broken two controllers. His work has also been featured by TheGamer and WhatIfGaming.

Will Monster Hunter Wilds run on Steam Deck? Yes and no

caesar contracted zenless zone zero

ZZZ: The best W-Engine, Drive Discs, and builds for Caesar