• This article has been translated from the original Japanese content.
• This interview was conducted before the system was released.

In this 16th volume of Ask the Developer, an interview series in which developers convey in their own words Nintendo’s thoughts about creating products and the unusual details they hone in on, we’re talking to the developers behind Nintendo Switch™ 2, which launches on Thursday, June 5.

I’m sure that those who already own Nintendo Switch games will be delighted that they can play them on Nintendo Switch 2. Did you already decide on this functionality when you were first planning the development of a new dedicated game system?

Kawamoto: Right from the beginning, we wanted the new system to be able to play Switch games, but back then, we were told there’d be technical challenges.

Dohta: When we first started Switch 2 development, the focus was on enhancing its performance as hardware, namely, expanding its capacity. So, compatibility was a lower priority. For example, Nintendo DS games were playable on Nintendo 3DS, and Wii games were playable on Wii U, but it was difficult to achieve the same level of compatibility with Switch 2, because the hardware design approach was different from those systems.

Sasaki: It’s tricky to explain… Maybe the easiest way to understand it is that the methods used to achieve compatibility between Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, and between Switch and Switch 2, are completely different.

Kawamoto: Simply put, those systems were compatible because Nintendo 3DS contained Nintendo DS hardware and Wii U contained Wii hardware. However, Switch 2 doesn’t contain any Switch hardware.

Does that mean that Switch and Switch 2 aren’t compatible at a hardware level?

Sasaki: Exactly. This time, we decided to take on the challenge of using new technology to run Switch games.

Dohta: If we tried to use technology like software emulators (22), we’d have to run Switch 2 at full capacity, but that would mean the battery wouldn’t last so long, so we did something that’s somewhere in between a software emulator and hardware compatibility.

(22) A software program that imitates certain hardware. Commonly used to run old software on a new device and requires higher processing power than the original device.

Sasaki: This is getting a bit technical, but the process of converting game data for Switch to run on Switch 2 is performed on a real-time basis as the data is read in.

Is it like having Switch games “simultaneously translated” for Switch 2?

Sasaki: That’s right. Although we’d made the technological preparations, at first, we weren’t quite sure whether it would be able to maintain proper compatibility.

Dohta: But if a new feature like GameChat is available not only for Switch 2 games but also for Switch games, I thought it would create chemistry that would enrich the gameplay and add completely new experiences. So, with that in mind, we decided we wanted the new system to run all Switch games, as far as that’s possible. If we couldn’t achieve that, it wouldn’t feel like a worthy successor to Switch.

Being able to say, “Switch games will run on Switch 2!” was one of the goals we wanted to aim for.

Kawamoto: We consulted with Sasaki-san again and again saying, “It’d be great if it works, but what do you think?” And even Sasaki-san was like, “Hmm…I don’t know about that…” (Laughs)

Sasaki: There are some games that ran well due to the Switch system’s hardware configuration. Switch 2, on the other hand, has increased processing capabilities and an expanded memory capacity, which could theoretically cause some of those games to stop working. We weren’t so confident at first, but as we tested games one by one, we found out that some issues could be solved by making improvements. This process helped us build confidence that, while we might not be able to solve everything, we can work it out for many games.

Does that mean you’re checking each game from the huge library of Switch titles to make sure they’re all compatible?

Sasaki: Oh yes… We’re checking them all, one by one. More than 10,000 games* in total.

Ten thousand?! That’s a huge number.

(23) A series of Nintendo Switch software released between April 2018 and April 2019. By assembling the included sheets of cardboard according to the instructions and combining them with the Nintendo Switch system, players can create and play with a variety of accessories, known as Toy-Con, including a Piano, Fishing Rod, Motorbike, and Robot. Joy-Con controllers for Nintendo Switch are required to play on Nintendo Switch 2.

Dohta: We assume players will think it’s natural for Switch games to run on Switch 2, and of course, we thought that it should be that way too. So, in order to achieve this somehow, we challenged ourselves to implement a new solution.

You mentioned that new technology is used to achieve compatibility, but are there situations where playing Switch games on Switch 2 will enhance the gameplay experience?

Dohta: When we tried running Switch games on Switch 2, there were some where loading times became faster, or game performance became more stable, so we realized that the overall gameplay experience could improve. And as mentioned previously, GameChat will also be available for Switch games that are played on Switch 2. Even for previously released games, there are opportunities to add value in the sense that it can enhance and change the gameplay experience. We understand that people buy new hardware so they can play new games created for it, so we’ve developed Switch 2 with that in mind.

However, it’s safe to say that Switch 2 is a system with new strengths in the sense that it adds value to Switch games that players already own. We’ll take advantage of those strengths in the future to further enhance the gameplay experience of Switch games.

We believe there are many things we can do, such as making Switch games compatible with GameShare through free updates, as well as leveraging Switch 2’s processing power to enable games to run in higher resolution and with a smoother frame rate.**

Dohta: Yes, we’re preparing a function so that users can easily transfer Switch data to Switch 2 using their Nintendo Accounts (24). This transfer from Switch to Switch 2 is actually the first system transfer that moves the account as a whole. Before Switch, players needed to create a new account for each new hardware generation. Since we established Nintendo Accounts and supported them on Switch, we’ve made various efforts to expand their use beyond our dedicated gaming systems. I think it’s natural for our customers to assume that those accounts, which they’ve used for various purposes other than gaming, can be used as-is on the new system.

(24) A free account that is required to use various Nintendo services such as Nintendo eShop, as well as network services on Nintendo Switch.

Sasaki: Nintendo Accounts are linked to customers’ important information and we believe it’s our mission to treat them with care. For our customers also, it’s crucial that their accounts and data—which they’ve used until now—can be transferred without any loss. We’re working to ensure that the transfer is as secure and stress-free as possible.

Dohta: Speaking of transferring, I expect many people who buy a Switch 2 will already own a Switch.

They might wonder which system they should use to play their digital games, but with virtual game cards, they can load and eject digital games between Switch and Switch 2 just like you would with a physical game card. This feature can also be used among Switch systems as well as Switch 2 systems. We originally developed it with the idea in mind that many players will continue to play both Switch and Switch 2 after Switch 2 has launched. So, you can continue to keep using both systems.

Ah, so if you use the virtual game card feature, you can also do things like lending your digital games to other family members. Apart from this, are there any other features returning from Switch that benefit from the Switch 2 system’s capabilities?

Dohta: Thanks to the system’s performance capabilities, Nintendo eShop on Switch 2 has been improved and runs smoothly even when displaying a large number of games. We believe the act of finding the game you want to play is itself part of the game system experience.

Kawamoto: Also, there’s a feature on Nintendo eShop called Game Finds for You, which lets you quickly see screenshots and watch introduction videos for games.

For the price of each software, please visit the Nintendo eShop. This feature is displayed according to the language of the country/region set in the Nintendo Account and the language set in the console.

With this feature, I think players will be able to easily find something interesting without having to search every nook and cranny of Nintendo eShop.

Sasaki: I think it was a big deal for us that, with the improvement of the system’s processing capability, we were able to take our goals one step forward. First, we prioritized making the system appeal to as many players as possible, then we shifted our focus to improving the player’s experience. The team came together to create something with that goal in mind.

So far, we’ve talked about the advances that Switch 2 brings, such as the larger screen, the processing speed that enables various gameplay experiences, the Joy-Con 2 controllers, which have been redesigned from scratch, and its compatibility with Switch. However, we haven’t touched on the name yet… How did you land on the name “Nintendo Switch 2”?

Kawamoto: There were a lot of ideas for the name, and we really struggled to find the right one.

We even considered ideas like “Super Nintendo Switch.” However, Super NES (25), which came out after the NES (26), couldn’t play NES games. Since Switch 2 can play Switch games, it didn’t feel right to use the same naming convention as Super NES. Switch 2 is a new system with improved performance, but we’d like players who get their hands on it not to focus on the specs, but rather to think of it as the latest system developed by Nintendo.

So, in the hope that it becomes the new standard for Nintendo Switch, we named it Nintendo Switch 2.

(25) Nintendo Entertainment System™. A home video game console released in October 1985 in North America. It came bundled with two controllers featuring a Control Pad and A and B Buttons. Players could swap game cartridges to play a variety of games.

(26) Super Nintendo Entertainment System™. A home video game console released in August 1991 in North America following the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Dohta: That’s right. From the beginning of development, we wanted Switch 2 to be a system that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of players. This hasn’t changed from Switch to Switch 2. I also wanted to create an experience that as many players as possible could enjoy, rather than an experience made specially for those who prefer high-performance hardware. So, we wanted a name that would communicate simply to potential customers that, if you’re considering buying a Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 is the newest system.

Sasaki: I thought the name was simple and easy to understand, since development began with the idea that Switch 2 would be a proper successor to Switch.

Dohta: We really struggled because there were so many different ideas, but in the end, after lots of back and forth, we all agreed that it should be Nintendo Switch 2 after all.

Thank you. So that’s how the name came to be. To conclude, can I ask each of you how you’d like players to enjoy Switch 2?

Sasaki: We’ve packed the Technology Development team’s devotion into every aspect of this hardware, the system software, and the network services with the hope that everyone will enjoy playing new games on this new dedicated gaming system from Nintendo. After all, games are fun. So, we just wish for everyone to genuinely enjoy playing Switch 2 without worrying about all the technical details.

Dohta: Going forward, new games will continue to be released not only by Nintendo but also by our publishing partners, leading to brand-new gameplay experiences. In that sense, it will be no different from past hardware, so I hope everyone will look forward to that part of Switch 2. Since Switch could be taken on the go in handheld mode, I think it blended more into the daily lives of players compared to past game systems, with many becoming attached to it as their own personal Switch system. We prepared various features, such as ensuring compatibility for Switch games and smooth system transfers using Nintendo Accounts, so I hope everyone will warmly welcome Switch 2 as their own new personal system.

We discussed that for developers, releasing games on Switch 2 will add new value to the software through features like GameChat, but it sounds like current Switch users will also be able to enjoy these benefits on Switch 2 with their existing library of games, allowing them to get even more enjoyment out of their new system. Lastly, Kawamoto-san, please.

Kawamoto: I’m repeating myself, but since Switch 2 is a new dedicated gaming system, I’d simply like everyone to thoroughly enjoy the games. As a person who makes gaming systems, there’s nothing more important than this. I hope players will enjoy games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, which are made possible because of the Switch 2 system’s capabilities, and games like Drag x Drive and Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, which leverage the new features of Switch 2. And I also think that existing Switch games can be enjoyed even more with features like the larger screen and with GameChat. I hope that this new system, Nintendo Switch 2, which supports both compatible Nintendo Switch games as well as Switch 2 exclusive games, will become the new standard.

Which once again goes to show why it had to be named Nintendo Switch 2.

It was fascinating to hear the passion that went into creating Nintendo Switch 2. I’m looking forward to the new gameplay experiences that will become the new standard in the future. Thank you very much.

*For details on compatibility, please visit the Nintendo website.

**In addition to Nintendo Switch 2 games, Nintendo Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital games that have been released on Nintendo Switch. Some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. Please see here for more information.