Nintendo confirms Switch 2 is coming soon, backwards compatibility is in

In context: Anticipation for Nintendo's next-generation handheld console continues to build arsenic nan institution faces its 2nd consecutive 4th of declining profits and falling Switch sales. Until recently, Nintendo had maintained near-total soundlessness regarding a successor to nan Switch. Now, however, nan institution has confirmed that nan caller console will characteristic backward compatibility pinch original Switch games and will support Switch Online games connected nan upcoming Switch 2.

Those hoping for an charismatic glimpse of nan next-generation Switch will apt request to hold until astatine slightest January 2025. The only confirmed item is that Nintendo plans to unveil nan caller handheld earlier April 1.

When Nintendo initially stated it would uncover nan instrumentality wrong nan existent fiscal year, ending connected March 31, 2025, galore speculated it would travel a akin promotional rhythm to nan original Switch.

Nintendo announced the original Switch successful October 2016, launching it successful March 2017 – a schedule deemed unconventional astatine nan time. The strategy, however, proved highly successful, pinch nan Switch reaching 146 cardinal units sold arsenic of this month, making it 1 of Nintendo's astir successful consoles.

However, Toyo Securities expert Hideki Yasuda precocious suggested that revealing a successor now could beryllium a costly distraction arsenic nan vacation shopping play begins, particularly pinch Nintendo successful a precarious position. This week, nan institution reported a year-over-year declines successful some Switch hardware and package income and reduced its projected income targets done adjacent March.

Nintendo apt hopes to debar further cannibalizing Switch income arsenic nan console enters its eighth vacation season, highlighted by titles specified arsenic The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and Super Mario Party Jamboree. With today's announcement, Nintendo is reassuring customers they tin acquisition Switch games this vacation season, knowing these titles will beryllium compatible pinch nan adjacent handheld console.

This is Furukawa. At today's Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch package will besides beryllium playable connected nan successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will beryllium disposable connected nan successor to Nintendo Switch arsenic well. Further accusation about…

This stands successful opposition to 2016, erstwhile Nintendo was eager to move connected from nan underperforming Wii U. Yasuda believes January is nan astir probable model for a Switch 2 reveal.

Following nan caller financial report, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa affirmed that nan company's scheme to unveil nan instrumentality earlier April 2025 remains unchanged. However, nan motorboat model is still uncertain. Earlier this year, developers pinch insider knowledge expressed dream for an April aliases May merchandise to debar competing pinch nan anticipated motorboat of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is expected to predominate attraction successful precocious 2025.

Nintendo's adjacent handheld is anticipated to characteristic 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM pinch imaginable bandwidth up to 102GB/s, an 8-inch LCD screen, magnetically attachable Joy-Con controllers, and a civilization spot based connected Nvidia's Ampere architecture from nan RTX 3000 series, pinch DLSS support.