Summary
- Nintendo Switch's rumored successor may be backward compatible, potentially allowing players to carry over their eShop library and accounts.
- Nintendo's decision to reuse accounts could smooth out the transition between consoles and could be similar to how PlayStation Store operates with backward compatibility.
- While there are no official updates yet, Nintendo's adoption of ideas from industry peers is an exciting prospect for the future of the Switch successor.
The latest update regarding the Nintendo Switch's rumored successor suggests it will be backward compatible with the current Switch. The Switch successor has had countless rumors and leaks spread about it thus far.
The Nintendo Switch primarily sells itself on its identity as a hybrid between a console and a handheld. It helped Nintendo rebound following the underperformance of the Wii U and even as it enters its seventh year on the market, it's still selling remarkably well, becoming the third bestselling piece of gaming hardware ever, behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's own DS. But nothing lasts forever, and as time goes by, more and more rumors have spread regarding what Nintendo has in store for its next platform, from its launch library, to its release window, to some of the features it might include, to even its graphical horsepower.
Ubisoft Already Has Plans for Switch 2 Console
Ubisoft's CEO discusses plans to bring one of its games to the Switch 2 after reciting Nintendo's advice regarding its launch.
Inverse recently interviewed current Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser on a variety of topics, ranging from the reason why Nintendo is not unionized, to the recently-released Super Mario Bros. Wonder, to even a small tidbit about the Nintendo Switch's successor. While he refused to comment on any of the rumors, Bowser did state that each new prior console required players to create a whole new account, whereas the current Switch's Nintendo Accounts are intended to be a long-term thing. While not a confirmation that the new console will be BC or retain some of the Switch's features in some capacity, it does seem to point in that direction.
Essentially, this statement is nothing more than a reaffirmation of Shuntaro Furukawa's prior comment, confirming that the Switch's successor will reuse Nintendo Accounts in order to smooth out the transition between consoles. However, this does hint at backward compatibility, as if the account is carried over, then more than likely, the eShop library will be too. A very similar model is utilized for the PlayStation Store, which is carried over between PlayStation console generations (in addition to the Vita and phone app) and allows players to access full downloadable games and DLC packs across multiple console libraries.
If the above is indeed true, then it should be exciting to see Nintendo adopt more ideas from its peers in the industry. Unfortunately, since Nintendo has no current plans to announce the Switch successor this year, players will most likely have to wait a while before they can get any more official updates from the gaming giant.
Source: Inverse