Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch 2 has a limited selection of games available upon its launch, with most players expected to rely on their existing library of Switch titles in the initial months. While the company has assured comprehensive backward compatibility, it is currently evaluating over 15,000 third-party Switch games to ensure they function smoothly on the new console.
With only a week remaining until its release, Nintendo has refreshed its compatibility support page with outcomes from nearly two months of extensive testing. The company states that about two-thirds of the third-party Switch titles have either “no issues” or face problems that can be efficiently addressed at launch or shortly thereafter. Previously, their basic compatibility checks had only been conducted on 20 percent of these games.
Nintendo indicates that nearly all of the approximately 5,000 remaining titles are likely to be compatible with the Switch 2, although “further tests” are still underway. The support page does not specify when the next update will be communicated to users.
Additionally, Nintendo has revised its PDF documents that outline games that will not launch, those that start but exhibit some compatibility issues, and those with problems that are expected to be “addressed by launch or shortly after.
<pNearly all of the 122 first-party Nintendo games are expected to run seamlessly on the Switch 2. However, exceptions include the Nintendo Labo cardboard kits, which were designed for the original Switch’s dimensions. Some titles that utilize specific features of the original Joy-Con controllers may only function with an external Joy-Con connected to the Switch 2.
In addition to the paid upgrade packs that will enhance content and graphics, Nintendo plans to roll out free updates for existing Switch games, introducing features specific to the new console and improving overall performance. Third-party developers are expected to have the ability to implement similar enhancements.
Nintendo has indicated that its approach to backward compatibility is “somewhere in between a software emulator and hardware compatibility,” necessitating thorough testing. While some reports describe this as “emulation,” it appears that the company is employing a code translation method akin to what Valve uses for Windows games on the Steam Deck’s Linux operating system. This strategy minimizes performance burdens typically associated with full software emulation while allowing most existing Switch titles to operate without requiring extensive developer effort.
Goodbye to non-games?
It appears that Nintendo is phasing out support for various video-streaming and non-game media applications on the Switch 2. The company has stated that apps like Hulu, Crunchyroll, InkyPen, Abema, and Niconico from the original Switch will “not be usable” on the new device, suggesting there will be no updates to make these applications compatible.
Nintendo has never positioned the Switch as a comprehensive multimedia device in the same manner as Sony and Microsoft’s gaming consoles. Many televisions that connect to the Switch typically offer these streaming services through built-in applications or via other devices like cable boxes or streaming devices such as Roku or Apple TV. Nevertheless, it remains unusual for a tablet-like device in 2025 to entirely lack support for media-streaming applications.
