Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa announced on Wednesday that software for the current Switch console will be playable on the upcoming successor device, marking the company’s commitment to backward compatibility as it gears up for a new hardware release by March 2025.
The Kyoto-based gaming giant shared this update during its midyear management policy briefing, where Furukawa highlighted the value of allowing players to enjoy their existing game library on the future console. “Nintendo Switch is currently being played with by many customers, so we decided it would be optimal for them to be able to play their Switch software on the successor model,” Furukawa stated.
With more than 1.3 billion software units sold for the Switch and an install base exceeding 145 million, backward compatibility could ease the transition for players while bolstering sales for both legacy and future titles. Analysts note that while this approach isn’t a surprise, it suggests the next console will retain many similarities with the Switch. Serkan Toto, founder of Kantan Games, indicated that Nintendo’s commitment to compatibility supports the notion of a closely aligned successor.
Nintendo’s financial report this week revealed a 29% increase in software sales, amounting to 39.6 million units in the quarter ended September, despite a drop in hardware demand. The company sold 4.72 million Switch consoles in the past three months, marking a 31% year-over-year decrease.
Nonetheless, Nintendo’s stock rose by 6% in Tokyo trading on the news, outpacing the broader market’s 3% rise, as investors responded positively to the company’s software momentum and future compatibility strategy.
