Nintendo has tested 75% of Switch 1 library on Switch 2, some notable titles have issues

We are one week away from the Nintendo Switch 2 launching worldwide. Nintendo has promised backwards compatibility with the vast majority of the Switch 1 game library, with just a few notable exceptions. So far, around 75% of the Switch 1 library has been tested. 

Nintendo had already confirmed that certain games that rely on external peripherals, like Ring Fit Adventure and the Nintendo Labo games, will not work on Switch 2 due to changes to the console and Joy-Cons. However, as testing has gone on, Nintendo has revealed more detailed information. The company now claims to have tested 75% of the Switch 1's total library, which spans over 15,000 titles, in part due to Nintendo's relaxed eShop publishing requirements, which led to plenty of ‘shovelware' being added to the store.

Of the titles tested so far, Nintendo has found that 118 games have start-up issues on Switch 2. Around 50 titles have been discovered to contain in-game compatibility issues after start-up. Another 50 titles with issues are already due to get updates at, or shortly after, the Switch 2's launch next week.

Most of the games with issues launching on the Switch 2 are smaller third-party title. For instance, publisher ‘Hamster' has around 22 arcade games listed on the eShop and none of them currently start up properly on the Switch 2. That is a good percentage of the list right there.

As far as notable titles go, games like Darksiders Genesis, Final Fantasy 1, GRID Autosport, NBA 2K18, Nier Automata, Rocket League, South Park: The Fractured But Whole and Star Wars Episode I: Racer are listed amongst the titles with start-up issues. In the case of NBA 2K18, it is unlikely that the game will be updated, as the game heavily relies on online play and the online servers have long been shut down.

Certain streaming apps, like Crunchyroll and Hulu, will also not support the Switch 2 at launch. Given that streaming apps didn't really take off on the Switch 1 to begin with, it is unclear of these apps will later be updated for the Switch 2.

You can find Nintendo's full Switch 2 compatibility testing breakdown, HERE.

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KitGuru Says: Are you thinking of upgrading to the Switch 2? Are you worried about backwards compatibility at all? 

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