What's happened
Nintendo has announced that software from the Nintendo Switch will be playable on its upcoming successor console. This confirmation comes amid declining sales and a significant profit drop for the company, as it prepares for a new console launch within the fiscal year ending March 2025.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Ars Technica, Nintendo's president emphasized the importance of backward compatibility, stating, "We believe that it is important for Nintendo’s future to make use of Nintendo Account and carry over the good relationship that we have built with the over 100 million annual playing users on Nintendo Switch to its successor." Meanwhile, The Independent reported a significant profit drop, highlighting that the Switch's sales momentum is waning, with Furukawa insisting that the company is not constrained by the console's life cycle. Nikkei Asia noted that details about the successor will be revealed later, but confirmed that existing Switch software will be playable on the new console.
How we got here
Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, confirmed the existence of a successor to the Switch in May 2024. Recent reports indicate that the new console's release has been delayed to early 2025 to ensure a smooth transition and robust game lineup.
Common question
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