Nintendo Is Making the Jump to Switch 2 as Easy as Possible for Everyone

Ever since Nintendo officially revealed the Switch 2, each eyes person been connected the upcoming April Direct. That’s erstwhile we’ll presumably get an authoritative Switch 2 merchandise date, price, and confirmed line-up of games. So the past happening I was expecting was for Nintendo to driblet another Direct the week earlier then, packed with large names similar Pokémon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4. But possibly fixed Nintendo’s commitments to backward compatibility, I shouldn’t beryllium excessively surprised.

Prior to this week’s Nintendo Direct, Nintendo was cautious to temper expectations by declaring “There volition beryllium nary updates astir Nintendo Switch 2 during the presentation.” While that’s technically existent – Switch 2 wasn’t mentioned isolated from a reminder astir the upcoming Direct and the caller Virtual Game Card sharing strategy – it’s not a immense leap to accidental that everything we saw this week volition beryllium playable connected the Switch 2, adjacent if, officially, these games are coming to the archetypal Switch.

It’s a win-win concern for everyone progressive - those sticking with the OG Switch inactive person plentifulness to beryllium excited astir arsenic the console enters its eighth year, and anyone upgrading to Switch 2 tin bash truthful harmless successful the cognition it volition person an extended backmost catalogue of games close from the get-go.

Nintendo’s committedness to backward compatibility is contributing to what I deliberation volition beryllium 1 of the smoothest transitions we’ve ever seen betwixt console generations. Of course, astir are excited to spot what the Switch 2 tin bash and what caller games are incoming, but by playing it harmless with the hardware, Nintendo has each bases covered. Based connected the astir caller Nintendo Direct, you wouldn’t deliberation Nintendo is trying to merchantability arsenic galore Switch 2 pre-orders successful the run-up to motorboat and person radical to upgrade. And that inclusive attack should beryllium applauded. Nintendo is fundamentally saying everyone is welcome, whether you’re looking to bargain a Switch 2 astatine launch, upgrade further down the line, oregon are contented to support the Switch you already own.

That’s wherefore determination was nary hazard successful showcasing the multitude of Switch games little than a week earlier a dedicated Switch 2 Direct drops, adjacent erstwhile conscionable beneath the aboveground of the Direct Nintendo was putting down adjacent much groundwork for the coming succession. I’m talking astir the Virtual Game Card system, which is an update that allows Switch owners to nexus 2 consoles unneurotic and stock integer games. It’s a utile feature, particularly with integer games income connected the rise, and it’s akin to the household sharing strategy Steam has. But wherefore denote it astatine the precise extremity of the Switch beingness rhythm erstwhile the Switch 2 is virtually weeks oregon months away? Presumably to marque the modulation to Switch 2 adjacent smoother.

Some person pointed retired that the good people for the Virtual Game Card indicates the beingness of a “Switch 2 Edition” for definite games. Whether that means determination are exclusive enhancements to Switch 2 Edition games that marque them unshareable with the older Switch, exclusive re-releases that volition lone enactment connected Switch 2, oregon thing other entirely, is inactive a mystery. But successful the aforesaid mode Nintendo said “Certain Nintendo Switch games whitethorn not beryllium supported oregon afloat compatible with Switch 2” erstwhile it was announced, this good people apt covers Nintendo’s bases successful the lawsuit of determination being immoderate unshareable games.

Whatever that good people means, it feels similar Nintendo is treating the roadworthy to Switch 2 astir similar a procession, a spot similar the mode Apple moves from 1 iPhone to the next. You don’t person to upgrade but determination are decidedly benefits if you do, and you tin bring immoderate games you had earlier on for the ride.

Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.