Nintendo’s Switch successor could face significant challenges implementing backwards compatibility, according to a new analysis by respected content creator and NightDive Studios developer ModernVintageGamer.
In a newly-published video, MVG digs into the possible components forNintendo‘s next console, and explains why incompatibility between new hardware and how currentNintendo Switchsoftware is compiled means that support for legacy Switch games isn’t necessarily a given.
The Nintendo Switch currently uses the Tegra X1, a chip developed byNVIDIAthat also powers Nvidia ShieldAndroidTVs from 2015-2018, highlighting the age of the hardware.
“If Nintendo is to move away from the Tegra X1, which we all feel strongly that they will probably do, current Switch games won’t work on new hardware, that is without recompiling the games to target that hardware,” MVG explains.
The developer then posits several solutions for how Nintendo could get around this issue, such as software emulation, similar to that found within theXboxSeries consoles.
Those machines use theXbox Series Xpower to emulate virtual Xbox andXbox 360consoles to play older games, similarly to how third-party emulators function onPC.
While aSwitch 2could theoretically do this, it would require significant processing power. Even theSteamDeck, which is a significantly more powerful device than the Nintendo Switch, struggles to emulate some Switch titles.
MVG then suggests a solution that NVIDIA and Nintendo provide chip compatibility for Tegra X1 on their next chip. However, as MVG points out, this is not currently supported and would seemingly require a lot of new work.
The next suggestion offered is that Nintendo includes a TegraX1 chip in every Switch successor, meaning older games can be played without emulation of new software, similarly to how theNintendo GameCube‘s chipset was included in theNintendo Wii.
The issue here is that this would increase the cost of producing the system, and in the case of physical games, would require either a Nintendo Switch cartridge slot or the successor to the Switch would also need to use the same carts.
Next-gen patches could also be offered, as has been suggested bya widely-circulating rumourthat states a patch is currently being worked on forPokemonScarlet and Violet in relation to a new piece of Nintendo hardware.
What has given this some legitimacy is it came from a social media poster that correctly revealed information and official names relating to the recently announced Pokemon DLC several days ahead of the Pokemon Presents during which it was announced.
