Switch 2's Backward Compatibility Almost Makes Up For The Switch's Biggest Failure

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Far and away, the best feature of Nintendo’s Switch 2 is its backward compatibility with the library of the current Switch console, but this feature is certainly the bare minimum expectation, and it does not make up for the original Switch dropping the ball in this arena. Switch 2’s backward compatibility shouldn't be mistaken for an attempt to follow the example provided by the current Xbox and PlayStation consoles. In truth, this is a return to form for Nintendo, as the company once had an excellent track record in honoring its fans’ loyalty through backward compatibility with its console releases.

The Switch 2 backward compatibility announcement is exciting, confirming that an investment in the Switch ecosystem would carry over to Nintendo’s next-generation console. This was what Nintendo fans once expected from each of the company’s consoles, especially its portables. The Wii played Game Cube games, and the Wii U played Wii titles. Similarly, Gameboy Advance played the original Game Boy’s games, the DS played Game Boy Advance titles, and the 3DS played DS games. The Switch merged Nintendo’s home consoles and portables into a single hybrid, but that hybrid abruptly ended the company’s legacy of backward compatibility support.

Early information indicates the PS6 will have PS5 backward compatibility, but this feature should be a basic necessity for any new console, not a pleasant surprise. It is obviously ideal that the millions of consumers who have purchased a Switch console and games should have their library supported by the Switch’s successor. This is not a novel concept, however, but one that simply fell out of vogue due to anti-consumer decisions in the gaming industry. The PlayStation 2 was fully backward compatible with the original PlayStation, and the Xbox 360 supported many original Xbox games. Recent consoles have fallen short.

Nothing justifies the company gutting the Virtual Console, and continuing to leave prior generation purchases locked behind