That is a shame

If it was going to be too difficult and their architecture didn't allow for such a thing I'm actually completely fine with that.

though I wish I could play my DS and 3DS library on the TV screen I completely understand the decision they had to make with this handheld. I really liked playing my PSP games on the TV screen so I'm going to be excited to do the same with this handheld.

Nintendo has already said that the Switch is a home console first. Although I do expect it to replace 3DS eventually. Unless there's a new handheld they're going to release, which would be pretty stupid considering the ability to take the switch anywhere with you. Maybe Nintendo still see handheld and console gamers as different markets?

As many of the very same people in here have said I didnt buy a new console to play old games. I think this console is going to sell like hotcakes because it is a portable console. They can try to sell it as a home console, but I think its not. Have they said that once the console is in its base it gains any additional abilities?

That's why PC is the best - decades-old games can still be played. Your typical PS2, 3 & 4 games are only good for a few years.

i'm assuming virtual console purchases made on the wiiu and wii would be compatible? like older mario games ?

Then they better have some games to play on it.

Well, they better find a way to bring games like Bayonetta 2, Wonderful 101, and Xenoblade Chronicles into the switch. Since Nintendo officially gave up on the WiiU, and not bring those games into the new system is no purchase for me. I'm not going to buy a nearly dying system just to play these games again. If so, the WiiU will have to be $100 total.

Nintendo fans: "I don't care about bc I love Nintendo thats why I don't care!! Nintendo owns everything, look how cool those control thingys detach from that screen it looks so coool and adorable is almost as small as a amibaa!!, look how cool this 5 year old game looks and even the dev said the game probably not even going to be release in this glorious tablet!!, look how awesome and portable is! I can go to a basketball court and instead of playing the real sport I seat on my arse and play on this tiny screen some....yes you guessed it ! a Basketball game!! fudge LOGIC for me!!

:D

Sad news. Would be nice if these companies cared enough about their consumers to add something as basic as backwards compatibility.

I understand people wanted DS and 3DS compatibility, but when you look at it from Nintendo's point of view, you can understand why they didn't. This would pretty much make the 3DS and New 3DS systems obsolete. Why would people even buy them at that point anymore if you can just fork 300-400 for the next system that nintendo fans want that also plays console games?

Also, due to the cartridge based software, Wii games and WiiU can't be played either. MAYBE we'll see an accessory later on that lets you play them, maybe digital only (though again, 32gb of memory? That's really low), maybe new versions or just sequels? If better versions of the WiiU games (like Smash Bros WiiU enhanced edition or something) I'd be down with that. That could tie people over until the Super Smash Bros for Switch easier.

It is interesting to see how it's all gonna end. It is basically a tablet with controllers bundled in and a dock for HDMI out. That said, I wanna go back. I wanna play Zelda, Metroid, Mario so here's hoping Nintendo will do well

That stinks, but oh well. Still want to learn more :)

This seems to rule out playing physical copies of past games but I think digital is still a possibility. Personally don't care for BC though. When a new system comes out, I rarely go back and revisit old games.

Major let down that it's not BC with 3DS, but to be expected.
Nintendo said it's a home console first and foremost & that it's not the successor to the 3DS.
I hope for a dedicated handheld release in the future.

With no touchscreen it's obvious Switch won't be backwards compatibie with 3DS and Wii U, not to mention it doesn't offer two screen gaming.

I just hope Nintendo fans don't flip flop and say backwards compatibility doesn't matter despite praising the feature to high heavens with DS, Wii, 3DS, & Wii U

They must have a good launch line-up of games. Zelda already is in so that a good first step, that mario seems new but I doubt it will be on say one, most likely this will be for the holidays 2017...3rd party ports, ok that's good...good enough considering that it will be the take it on the go edition so that's the plus side. The splatoon and Mario Kart 8 seems like Wii U ports and that's ok cause they are adding new features, such as new caharactes in the MK8 and more hairstyles and more levels.
That being said it's not enough...I expect them to give us something this January or Febuary nextt year. And by that I mean another 1st game and more 3rd party ports at least...or who know maybe Beyond good and evil 2.

No real surprise here. Lack of compatibility appears to be a recurring trend as we go forward. Hard to criticize Nintendo here, especially when this is their first console since GC that isn't BC.

I'm far more excited to see where they're going with this than going backwards.

I wonder if theyll keep the country codes

Lol when nintendo does it people get mand when somy and ms been doing it for ovee 10 years now thay can care less. This to me is bullshit but i must move on.

Looks like all they said was specifically wiiu discs and 3ds cartridges. I think digitally it might be ok, but I'd have to wait on confirmation from them.

All the Nintendo fans who have complained about remasters on PS4 and XB1 are about to get a rude awakening. lol.

I hope nintendo gets a proper network set up for online accounts where you can just buy a game once on your account and use it on the Switch and any other upcoming systems they launch.

They're going to resell the little fans they have left the same games.
I mean publishers already do it on PS4/XB1 and if anyone is in dire need for more games its Nintendo for its consoles.

I think some of you should look up backwards compatibility and see how it works. If you know why Vista failed, then u might know why it's hard to do backwards compatibility.

Oh well whatver I dont mind that, after all the point of the NS its to be a home console on-the-go, that is all I'm expecting along with a good launch lineup and powerful enough to be at the same level of the Ps4 or Xbox one.

I really hope you can get the whole Wii U catalogue in some way on the Switch. It would be a shame to go to waste.

Note: He's saying it won't work for Wii U Disks and 3DS cartridges. That DOES NOT necessarily mean that it won't at some point, be compatible with Wii U/3DS software downloaded from the eshop, nor does it mean its not retro compatible at all because it could still have compatibility for N64, GC, SNES, NES, GB, GBA, DS or WII.

It won't run the discs, obviously, but it will play the games.

Theres gonna be a lot of disappointed nintendo fans out there lol.

PS4 didnt either so ill live.. Im sure ports will be released if anyone is dying to play an older title