I’d be surprised if most games wouldn’t run just fine through a general compatibility layer. This is less intensive than emulation. It wouldn’t result in 100% BC, but between that and potentially “upgrade” patches for select titles it could probably get close enough no one would really care.
This is a corner of technology that’s made massive leaps in the last five or six years. It’s how Proton works on the Steam Deck and Linux to run Windows executables, Rosetta on Apple silicon to run X86 apps, and Windows Subsystem for Linux to run a Linux environment in Windows without virtualization.
Hestu951
Love MVG, but I think he’s underestimating the importance of BC for the Switch. It has become a juggernaut in the market, and if its successor wants to hit the ground running, it needs to accept the Switch library without any hitches. Otherwise, it’s going to split the userbase for a few years. I think Nintendo will do what it takes to make this happen (full hardware compatibility) one way or another, if they’re in tune with reality.
I know I won’t be buying a new system if it can’t play my current games at least as well as the Switch. Instead, I’d wait for it to develop a good game library of its own before taking the plunge.
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Sufficient-Yoghurt46
Interesting, but when you consider how much more powerful the new chip will be, they can for sure handle emulating the Switch – or patch it or whatever. Should be fine.
Seriously you don’t think Nintendo did this research before shipping the original Switch in 2017?
GamerMr8000
I have a switch and some games and while backwards compatibility is important to me I understand it’s not for everyone. What will get really spicy is if we have wii u titles be re-re-released for full price (or worse $70) because f you we’re nintendo. There’s also too much of a market with the switch so people might be hesitant to jump to new hardware if it doesn’t support what they already have
Robbitjuice
I think that if Nintendo went another Arm-based SOC then backwards compatibility would almost be a non issue. Especially since they have a long contract with Nvidia (10 years, I believe?).
I’m mainly wondering if they’ll keep the “switch” hybrid style? That’s what interests me the most, I believe!
6 Comments
I’d be surprised if most games wouldn’t run just fine through a general compatibility layer. This is less intensive than emulation. It wouldn’t result in 100% BC, but between that and potentially “upgrade” patches for select titles it could probably get close enough no one would really care.
This is a corner of technology that’s made massive leaps in the last five or six years. It’s how Proton works on the Steam Deck and Linux to run Windows executables, Rosetta on Apple silicon to run X86 apps, and Windows Subsystem for Linux to run a Linux environment in Windows without virtualization.
Love MVG, but I think he’s underestimating the importance of BC for the Switch. It has become a juggernaut in the market, and if its successor wants to hit the ground running, it needs to accept the Switch library without any hitches. Otherwise, it’s going to split the userbase for a few years. I think Nintendo will do what it takes to make this happen (full hardware compatibility) one way or another, if they’re in tune with reality.
I know I won’t be buying a new system if it can’t play my current games at least as well as the Switch. Instead, I’d wait for it to develop a good game library of its own before taking the plunge.
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Interesting, but when you consider how much more powerful the new chip will be, they can for sure handle emulating the Switch – or patch it or whatever. Should be fine.
Seriously you don’t think Nintendo did this research before shipping the original Switch in 2017?
I have a switch and some games and while backwards compatibility is important to me I understand it’s not for everyone. What will get really spicy is if we have wii u titles be re-re-released for full price (or worse $70) because f you we’re nintendo. There’s also too much of a market with the switch so people might be hesitant to jump to new hardware if it doesn’t support what they already have
I think that if Nintendo went another Arm-based SOC then backwards compatibility would almost be a non issue. Especially since they have a long contract with Nvidia (10 years, I believe?).
I’m mainly wondering if they’ll keep the “switch” hybrid style? That’s what interests me the most, I believe!