When the Nintendo Switch was officially introduced in January, it was met with a mix of excitement and curiosity.
Nintendo Switch will be Nintendo's first console after the commercial failure Wii U. Thus, the gaming world is anticipating what changes it will bring to the industry. Another point in question is the games that will be playable in this new console.
Nintendo put this issue to rest when it announced that more than 85 games are slated for release on Switch. This prompted another question from gamers: Will the new Switch be backward compatible for much older games?
"Backward compatibility" in gaming simply means older games from previous gaming systems can be played on the most recent one.
Nintendo Switch Is Not Backward Compatible
This is the answer that Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima gave in a recent exclusive interview. He discussed about the Nintendo Switch and other features the new console will offer gamers.
When asked if the Switch is powerful enough to emulate Wii U games, he said that Nintendo can take games and remake them for the console.
"That said, Switch is not backward compatible with games designed for other systems," he confirmed. The reason being that Switch is "not currently compatible with controllers designed for other systems."
Kimishima however did not rule out such possibility.
"Support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update. In some cases, games from past systems may be re-released for the Nintendo Switch system as either enhanced or original versions," he said.
When asked if Wii U apps like Miiverse and Wii U Chat will make a reappearance in the Switch, Kimishima said that those are not transferred or installed.
"In principle, we think about which application needs to be improved or discontinued by looking at consumers' reactions," he said.
Switch And Virtual Reality Support
With the advent of virtual reality gaming, is there a plan on the table for the Switch for this? Kimishima likes the idea.
"We are interested and doing research into this field. The question, of course, is 'What is the best way to bring virtual reality to our customers as a form of entertainment?'" he said.
He said the most "fun" use of this technology should be the main consideration vis-à-vis Switch's approach to virtual reality, not just being cool or realistic.
Nintendo Switch is set for an official launch on March 3, 2017. This hybrid console and portable gaming system is coming with a long list of games, including the much-anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.
