Switch 2 coming late 2024

I play loads of old arcade stuff on the switch and want to carry on doing so on new hw so I can both trade in and have less clutter.

Nothing will be backwards compatible but you will be able to re-buy the likes of Mario Oddyssey Remastered for the low, low price of £79.99

I think it'll have some form of backwards compatibility. They have generally had games run on systems which share architecture, and there's no reason to think it won't be an nVidia/ARM chip from all the rumours. Just don't expect what MS have been doing with Xbox or even PS4 to PS5 levels and maybe expect to change 'modes' to match the previous gen console. Given how busted Switch ended up in terms of security I suspect they'll lock it down.

Losing a bunch of games to PS3 has really poisoned me against getting PS4/5 stuff now that most of it is available on the PC, so even a Switch mode which runs games without any speed bonus would be really positive, especially since my launch Switch is getting really wheezy now.

I guess if I'm forced to spend money on a switch 2 then at least that will free up the switch for risk-free-ish modding and maybe I can get all the Wii games onto it.
(Currently using a modded wii for Wii, GameCube and retro games like N64, nes, etc...)

If that's a thing. I haven't checked the switch modding scene as I didn't want to screw it up and get in trouble with the kids.

I'm not convinced it's a Switch 2 exactly, I reckon they will go for something completely different name-wise. I mean the last time they made a successor console, the Wii u, it was a complete failure.

Maybe I'm wrong and they'll follow the NES to SNES model and just make a more powerful Switch, a Super Switch. But I don't think the next console will be called a Switch.

Yeah, my understanding is it won't be as simple as things just working. I've read why in the past and understood it at the time, but can't recall why now - perhaps something to do with the coding libraries not matching and needing to be redirected to the correct ones. Basically though, Nintendo would either need to include the original Switch chip in the new Switch (like they did with Wii U and you had to reboot into a Wii mode) or every game will need an update to make it compatible. It didn't sound like that update would need a huge amount of work, but it would require developers to actually do something, so you would never have 100% backwards compatibility.

As for whether this will be a Switch successor, I feel like it very much will be. The main reason often cited for the Wii U's name failing is because it wasn't clear it was a new device, particularly for the average punter. The U on the end just made it sound like it was an add-on. Going with a 2 will make it clear it is something actually new. Even calling it a Super Switch would be clearer, with the heritage that the SNES holds (or they may go with Super Nintendo Switch, to avoid the SS abbreviation).

I don't actually think it is, DF have mentioned this in a recent DF Direct that it would have to be a very specific custom chip or a software layer done by Nintendo to achieve BC.

It's the most recent DF Direct. They state that PS4 to PS5 works because AMD bake BC into the silicon, Nvidia don't apparently.

The GameCube, Wii, WiiU and Switch were all Day 1 purchases for me. I imported a GBA and DS before UK release and the DSi was another instant purchase. I've not been disappointed with any of them, the WiiU took a while to get going, but it's still plugged in and the kids use it fairly regularly.

I don't user the Switch in handheld mode much myself outside of holidays, but the kids do all the time, as I got them a Switch Lite for when they are at their mums. If they are going for a similar concept next time, I certainly wouldn't be against it.

BC isn't a deal breaker normally for me with consoles, but in this case I think is important. I'm fine having lots of consoles plugged into the main TV, but on a holiday, I would only want to take one. For anyone who takes it out the house regularly, without a very strong launch lineup I think it would harm initial sales if it wasn't included.

Considering it's age the Switch can still delight. Zelda has dominated our gaming time since it came out, and whilst it would be lovely to have PS5/Series X fidelity, we haven't found the lower res or detail to dampen our enjoyment.

Part of me does wish they would go back to having a machine which at least on paper is comparable to the Sony/MS offering, but as long as they continue to publish games with that Nintendo quality i'll be happy.

Switch 2 late 2024 -> Switch 2 games late 2025.

Yeah I'll probably get one, but I haven't purchased a Nintendo game in years so at least I'll have the ports to play.

A better handheld experience would be nice. The button layout and joycons gave me osteoarthritis.

This is me, right here. I've started using the Switch as a handheld more often recently, primarily because we've started going on more trips during the year for various reasons. My backlog on it isn't as big as on other consoles, but it's not exactly small, and having to lug both Switches around (or to decide what to leave behind) would just be a pain, especially on a trip...

I've kept my PS3, Wii and Wii U so that I can play my collection of older games, but in reality I'm never actually going to bother my arse with digging the Wii U out.
Everything else is probably less hassle to just emulate. Think it might finally be time for a ruthless loft clear out...

So yeah, fingers crossed this does some sort of BC, even if it's a no frills approach. Otherwise it'll just be another machine for the loft box of doom.

For sure. The girl has a launch switch and I bought a lite a few months ago and, considering she never docks hers, it’s all around a much, much nicer device.

I still only play roguelikes on it, for some reason. Binding of Isaac, Hades, gungeon…. hundreds of hours between them. Everything else? Virtually untouched.

Definitely going to be just a faster Switch, by all accounts the current management is rather conservative and it's been 30 years since they had two consecutive successful consoles, they are not going to rock the boat. I think they'll offer BC with an automatic upscale to 1080p for £10/game, or if you subscribe to the online service. I can see it launching with a bunch of games that the current switch can't handle, like they did with the Wii U.