Just last month, Nintendo officially unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2. While we still have to wait for the special Nintendo Direct in April to learn specifics about the new console, Nintendo has already seemingly teased a new Mario Kart game for it, while confirming backward compatibility with most Switch 1 titles.
With the Nintendo Switch 2 arriving sometime this year, current Switch owners may be wondering what to do with their console — especially without knowing the system specs, price, or launch lineup for the Switch 2. Usually, a new console means games exclusively developed for it. And while the Switch 2's improved hardware will almost certainly ensure better support for games, Nintendo won't completely abandon the current Switch.
Two of Nintendo's most anticipated titles right now are Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Both games have been announced for a while now and both will release at some point in 2025.
The galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter Samus Aran will embark on a new mission in Metroid Prime™ 4: Beyond, coming to Nintendo Switch in 2025.
And now Nintendo has confirmed that when they do arrive, both will be playable on the Nintendo Switch 1. Speaking during a Q&A with investors, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa reaffirmed both titles will be released this year, and that both will run on the Switch 1 and Switch 2.
Furukawa also stated that Nintendo will "continue to launch attractive software as soon as we can develop it" for the Switch 1, but also pointed out that "dedicated software is very important for the launch of new hardware." It's understandable that Nintendo wants to encourage gamers to upgrade to the Switch 2, but at the same time, there is a huge number of people who already own the original Nintendo Switch. Completely shutting them out from two of this year's biggest games would not only hurt software sales but also run the risk of upsetting them.
Imagine the outrage if Nintendo gated Metroid Prime 4 — a title that was first announced back in 2017 — behind the Switch 2. Meanwhile, Pokemon Legends Z-A, described as an "ambitious new entry to the Pokemon video game series," was already announced for Switch "systems."
A new adventure awaits within Lumiose City, where an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon.
Even if both games come to both systems, there's still reason for gamers to upgrade. The Switch 2 will undoubtedly have more powerful software capable of running the games at a better frame rate with high visual fidelity.
That said, we're not quite sure if there will be a Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions of these games. It's possible Nintendo is simply developing them for the original Switch, and then have them playable on the Switch 2 via backward compatibility. Regardless, it sounds like whatever version of the Switch console you have, you'll be able to enjoy two of Nintendo's biggest games of the year.