The next Nintendo Switch will be backwards compatible with existing games

Nintendo just revealed a big feature for the upcoming next-generation Switch: the new console will be backwards compatible with existing Switch games. In its second-quarter earnings report published on Tuesday, the Japanese company provided new information about what fans can expect when the company unveils its Switch successor. That announcement is expected by the end of the fiscal year, which ends in March 2025.

The announcement focused on continuity between platforms. Historically, Nintendo consoles did not support the transfer of purchase and gameplay history during upgrades. But the new Switch supports account and game history continuity through Nintendo Account integration, allowing players to transfer their purchases, Nintendo Switch Online memberships and related services.

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“We believe it is important for the future of Nintendo to leverage Nintendo Account and transfer the great relationship we have built with the more than 100 million annual users on Nintendo Switch to its successor,” Nintendo said in a statement. the report (PDF file).

The company reported that it sold 4.72 million Switch devices in the past three months, down 31% year over year. This equates to a total of 146 million Switch consoles sold worldwide as of September 30. The company also reported a 60% decline in profit for the first half of the fiscal year due to declining demand for the 7-year-old Switch. However, total software sales have reached 1.3 billion units.

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“More software has been played on Nintendo Switch than on any other Nintendo hardware,” the company said in the report.

Nintendo said it will release more detailed information about the next-gen Switch at a later date.