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On paper, the Nintendo Switch 2‘s backward compatibility is a welcome feature that lets you revisit Switch 1 games in two ways. One method, simply popping an old game into the new system, lets you play, but the title isn’t guaranteed a performance boost. In fact, it may play worse. The second method? Native Switch 2 Editions of previously released games, such as Civilization VII, Fortnite, and Hogwarts Legacy, that bring titles designed for the original, underpowered system up to par with their versions on other platforms. However, there aren’t many of those. Although I didn’t expect Nintendo to sunset the Nintendo Switch 1 any time soon, I did expect more titles to leverage the Nintendo Switch 2’s power. But after IGN Live, Summer Game Fest, two Nintendo Directs, and Gamescom, a surprising trend has emerged: A notable lack of cross-platform titles optimized for the Switch 2. With its current implementation, Nintendo’s backward compatibility is more of a curse than a blessing.
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound only runs at 30fps on the Nintendo Switch 2 (Credit: Tecmo Koei)
Backward Compatibility Is Hurting Switch 2 Ports
There’s some truth to that feeling. In a recent episode of Digital Foundry’s podcast, the Direct Weekly, John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie reported that they spoke to numerous developers at Gamescom who were unable to get development kits to make Switch 2 games. What they were told by developers is shocking.
“Nintendo seems to be almost discouraging Switch 2 development to some degree,” Linneman said. “I’ve spoken with plenty of developers where they were either told that they should just ship it on Switch 1 and rely on backward compatibility. There’s a lot of developers that are unable to get Switch 2 dev kits. We talked to a lot of devs at Gamescom this year, and so many of them said the same things. They want to ship on Switch 2. They would love to do Switch 2 versions. They can’t get the hardware.”
I’m sure I’m not the only person who wants to make the Switch 2 their primary console. In fact, there are some games that I consider potentially good Switch 2 titles. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, a game I absolutely love, is one example. There’s a Switch 1 version, but the demo confirmed what I feared: Shinobi is seriously compromised, with abysmal resolution in both handheld and docked modes. In comparison with the gorgeous artwork found on the current-gen platforms, Shinobi on the Switch 2 looks jaggy and distorted.
In some cases, backward compatibility can make games look worse thanks to a lower-resolution image stretched across the Switch 2’s 1080p screen.
Although Sega mentioned on Twitter/X that it will release a patch addressing the Switch’s resolution issues, I can’t help but think that a native Switch 2 version would’ve prevented this messy situation. Likewise, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, another Switch 1 game that should shine on the Switch 2, is capped at just 30 frames per second (it plays at a smoother 60fps on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S).
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance has a noticeable resolution downgrade on the Nintendo Switch 2 (Credit: Sega)
The Nintendo Switch 1 has been punching well above its weight for some time now. The underpowered console proved more than capable of delivering excellent games, so long as you were willing to deal with cutbacks, either in resolution or in performance. But it’s been eight years since the system debuted, and it’s unacceptable for Nintendo to ask you to accept those same compromises. In some cases, backward compatibility makes some games look worse thanks to a lower-resolution image stretched across the Switch 2’s 1080p screen.
Without Switch 2 native editions, I’m stuck playing the stripped-down Switch 1 version on the new system. This makes me want to play upcoming multi-platform titles, such as Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots and Once Upon a Katamari, on the PlayStation 5.
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Where Are the Switch 2 Dev Kits and Updates?
“The thing that really stark to me too is, at this point, we’ve seen very few proper Switch 2 Editions post-launch,” Mackenzie said. “I don’t think we’ve seen any, hardly at all really, from third-party developers in particular. Obviously, we saw No Man’s Sky, I think one or two other games in the mix there. But really, it’s been a very slow trickle of titles earning that Switch 2 Edition badge.”
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the best looking Nintendo Switch 2 titles (Credit: CD Projekt Red)
He’s right: A seemingly random grab bag of titles, like Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, No Man’s Sky, and most recently, High on Life, received Switch 2 updates post-release that improve performance, update visuals, and take advantage of the new system’s gimmicks. Likewise, Nintendo has updated several titles, including transformative free updates to Switch 1 releases like Game Builder Garage, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Still, there are glaring omissions. CD Projekt Red did an amazing job bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to the Switch 2, but where’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? Doom and Doom Eternal, two popular Switch 1 “impossible ports,” would look great with a Switch 2 boost. But it’s been radio silence on anything from Microsoft (outside of the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle port coming in 2026).
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My hope is that Nintendo is keeping the big guns close to its chest and aiming for a huge rollout of titles this holiday season. The Switch 1’s launch year was packed with big first- and third-party releases, and I hope that same energy makes its way to the Switch 2.
Mackenzie also noted that who did and didn’t receive development kits didn’t make sense. He stated that while it was nice to see indie developers snatching up Switch 2 dev kits, some inclusions, like Chillin’ by the Fire, published by Oink Games, were surprising. He also found it strange that some AAA developers didn’t get dev kits. Perhaps this is indicative of Nintendo’s strategy; leverage the indies that took shape on the original Nintendo Switch (and in some cases, even on the Wii U).
Relatively unknown developer Oink Games was one of the lucky indie developers that got its hands on Switch 2 development kits (Credit: Oink Games)
Game development is a costly and time-consuming process, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some companies think it isn’t worth the time and effort to update an older game to tap the Switch 2’s muscle. I’m happy and even grateful that I can play my older Switch games on my new system, but I don’t want Nintendo to use backward compatibility as an excuse to not let developers utilize the new console’s resources. Right now, Nintendo appears happy with the performance gains Switch 1 games receive via backward compatibility, even if those gains are still largely inferior to the benefits those titles receive when running on other platforms. That’s a bummer.
Nintendo Switch 2: The Switch Just Got Better
Will More Switch 2 Ports Come Soon?
Considering the Switch 2’s record sales and developer and publisher interest, it’s baffling that Nintendo has been so cagey with its Switch 2 development kits. Perhaps it had to do with the years of leaks leading up to the Switch 2’s reveal. Maybe it’s simply Nintendo being Nintendo. I just hope more Switch 2 Editions will be available as the system matures. At any rate, we might get some answers soon, as new rumors suggest that a Nintendo Direct is coming on September 12, days ahead of the Tokyo Game Show. My fingers are crossed for Nintendo living up to its backward compatibility promise.
About Zackery Cuevas
Writer, Hardware
