The Switch 2 has finally been announced, and questions remain over how it will work, its features, the games, and more. One of those questions is how the console will handle backwards compatibility.
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Thankfully, we have pulled together all the information we know into this complete rundown.
Can the Switch 2 play Nintendo Switch games?
Yes, the Nintendo Switch 2 can play digital and physical Switch 1 games. This means you can return to experiences you started, replay games, and keep all your progress and save data, providing it is tied to your account.
Credit: Nintendo
What Switch 1 games won’t be compatible with Switch 2?
Switch 2 is unlikely to be able to play the following games that require extra peripherals:
Nintendo Labo
Nintendo Piano
Ring Fit Adventure
These three games/experiences have specific holders for the Joy-Con on Switch 1 and the new Joy-Cons are simply too big for them, making them completely unusable. Additionally, any Nintendo Labo experiences in other games also won’t work, including Spice and Wolf, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The rest of the game will be playable, however.
Additionally, if the new Joy-Con’s don’t have an IR sensor, then a handful of other games won’t work. But we don’t know for sure yet if the feature is missing.
That covers the key information we know right now. With the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct in April, we should get more clarity over which games won’t work with the new console. This guide will stay up to date with the latest updates and information as and when it comes out.
For even more on the Switch 2, be sure to check out some of the Switch 2 accessories you can now buy.
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