The recent Nintendo Direct revealed a stunning lineup of upcoming titles, including exciting new entries in the Zelda and Mario & Luigi franchises, as well as a confirmed release date for Metroid Prime 4.
These announcements, along with a slate of anticipated releases, have set the stage for an incredibly strong finish for the Nintendo Switch.
However, many of these games, including Metroid Prime 4 and the Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D remakes, are set for release in 2025, making the beginning of the year especially packed for Switch owners.
Coupled with Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it seems the Switch will close out its lifecycle with a bang.
Despite the anticipation surrounding a new console, Nintendo has stated that they don’t expect to see income from a potential Switch successor until the 2025-2026 fiscal year, meaning the release will likely be after April.
Will the Switch Be Forgotten Before Its Successor Arrives?
There’s no doubt that the Nintendo Switch is among the best consoles ever made, joining ranks with systems like the PlayStation 2 and GameCube.
The worst-case scenario for this great console would be for it to end on a lackluster note, with a final year of uninspired releases as Nintendo shifts focus to its successor.
Fortunately, that won’t be the case. Nintendo is making sure fans have plenty to enjoy, with a strong lineup continuing into the next year.
By the time the Switch’s successor arrives, players will have been well-fed with excellent gaming experiences.
But there are concerns about whether there will be enough time to fully enjoy these games before the next system takes over.
What Will Happen if Players Haven’t Finished Their Games?
With a packed year of major releases, including Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, players may find themselves with too many games to finish before the next console launches.
What happens if, by May 2025, some players haven’t had the chance to complete their games?
Are they expected to abandon their progress and jump into a brand-new set of titles with the new console, or will they be able to continue where they left off?
The most logical solution seems to be backwards compatibility. If Nintendo plans to release major titles like Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends: Z-A just months before the launch of a new console, it’s reasonable to expect that these games will be playable on the upcoming system.
Will the New Console Support Backwards Compatibility?
Given Nintendo’s reputation as the “good guy” in the gaming industry, it would be surprising if they didn’t include backwards compatibility in the next console.
Whether the next system is an updated version of the Switch or an entirely new concept, Nintendo would likely ensure that players’ old games can still be played.
A small design tweak, like adding a notch to the cartridge similar to the one on the 3DS, might be a possibility, though it could be considered a little underhanded. But it would still be preferable to having no backwards compatibility at all.
Considering Nintendo’s strong image and the exciting games set to launch in 2025, it seems unlikely that the new console would disregard the ability to play Switch games.
Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends: Z-A are bound to be two of the major titles that will bridge the gap between two generations of consoles.
In fact, it’s possible that the new console will offer better performance and graphics for these games, though ideally, players won’t have to repurchase them to experience their upgraded versions.
