Nintendo Answers further Switch Questions; No Backwards Compatibility with Games and Controllers

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Nintendo is clarifying (and not) questions regarding its upcoming home console-handheld hybrid.

Kotaku reached out to the House of Mario with a set of questions which recently replied. Those that stand out the most are:
  • No backwards compatibility with games and controllers for other systems. However, support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update.
  • No games being bundled with Nintendo Switch
  • 32GB of internal NAND memory, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. The system’s internal memory can be easily expanded as needed using microSDXC cards (up to 2TB, when available on the market)
  • Capture button to take screenshots, which can be viewed and edited before sharing on social media. No video capture at launch but planning to add the ability to record video in the future.
  • Mii Maker app on the Switch
  • No video streaming at launch but is being considered for a future update
  • Region-free

You can read the full response below:

Is Switch backwards compatible in any way? Will you be able to download or play Wii, Wii U, or 3DS games?

The Nintendo Switch system is not backward compatible with games designed for other systems, and is not currently compatible with controllers designed for other systems. Support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update. We have nothing to announce regarding Virtual Console or other types of digital purchases at this time.

How if at all does the Switch connect to Wii U and 3DS owners’ existing accounts?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

Will the Switch be compatible with existing Virtual Console purchases?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

Will the Switch have its own library of Virtual Console games that starts from scratch, or will it bring over the Virtual Console library from 3DS and Wii U?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

How will SNES online functionality work? Which games will it support?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

For those concerned about the 32GB of storage, how will that work for playing downloadable games? How will it work for DLC and patches?

The Nintendo Switch system has 32GB of internal NAND memory, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. The system’s internal memory can be easily expanded as needed using microSDXC cards.

The SDXC standard supports up to 2TB of storage. (Note that 2TB cards are not yet on the market, but Nintendo Switch will support them when they are.) External USB hard drives are not supported at launch, but we are researching the possibility of supporting them in the future.

If no microSDXC card is used, everything is stored in internal NAND memory. If a microSDXC card is used, game save data is stored in internal NAND memory while data that can be redownloaded, such as digital games, game updates, and DLC, is stored on the microSDXC card. Nintendo Switch game cards are non-writable; game save data is stored in internal NAND memory.

Is there a trophy or achievements system?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

The 3DS has built in games and the Wii and Wii U were bundled with games. Are there any games being bundled with the Switch?

There are no games being bundled with Nintendo Switch.

Every launch is different, and with each one we try to make the best decision for the consumer, marketplace and our company. We believe the hardware configuration at the price point we’ve chosen is a great consumer value. The consumer will have their choice of great software for the system.

How does the Share button work? Does it allow you to capture video as well as screenshots? Will it allow you to stream on Twitch or YouTube?

The Capture Button is located on the Joy-Con (L) controller and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and lets users grab screenshots from their games. They can then view, edit (add text of various sizes, colors and positions) and post them to social media. The original unedited screenshot is also saved.


We are planning to add the ability to record video in the future.

Switch won’t have Miiverse - will there be Miis? Or any other equivalent?

While Miiverse will continue to be supported on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems, our approach with the Nintendo Switch system is to make greater use of other established, broadly used social platforms. For example, captured gameplay screenshots can be shared on popular social networks, and social features such as voice chat are possible with smart devices through our app.

There is a Mii Maker on Nintendo Switch. The software to create Mii characters is now located in System Settings, and no longer resides on the HOME menu as a standalone application. You can also create a Mii character from the Profile screen. Making Mii characters is similar to the method used on past systems.

Mii characters can be used to represent a user profile, but are not required. Users also have the option to choose a profile picture from an included library of Nintendo character images. Mii characters can still be used in games if developers choose to include them.

You can send/receive Mii characters through local wireless communication between Nintendo Switch systems, or use an amiibo figure to transfer Mii Characters from Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems.

Mii characters on the Nintendo Switch system are similar to past iterations, but they have some different options. More facial components and colors for hair and skin have been added, while the following attributes have been removed: creator’s name, favorites, birthday, copying, and “public.”

Will Switch support Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO Go, or any other streaming services?

All of our efforts have gone toward making the Nintendo Switch system an amazing dedicated video game platform, so it will not support any video-streaming services at launch. However, support for video-streaming services is being considered for a future update.

Will online stores be region-free or just cartridges?

The Nintendo Switch system is not region locked, but we recommend that players buy games within their region to ensure full service and support. The user will access the Nintendo eShop that corresponds to the country identified in their Nintendo Account. (Up to eight user accounts can be created on a single Nintendo Switch system.)

:arrow: SOURCE
 

DrkBeam

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"Nintendo Switch game cards are non-writable; game save data is stored in internal NAND memory"

Am I the only one disturbed by this. For almost all of Nintendo's previous cartridge based systems, game saves have always been on the cartridge. Why the ***k are they now deciding instead to put game save on the console? What if the console breaks? It's seriously stupid that they would cheap out with the cartridges so much that they would not even put save functionality in them and even worse is they put it on internal nand and it's never gonna be put on MicroSD.

If this console ever gets hacked, I would hope CFW redirects that ***t to SD. :P
I'm really pissed off, if a friend borrows me a cartridge I won't be able to play with their save progress, there goes away the share idea, and probably they did this for the hacking, again the save data is stored on the same system what about if it's broken, all your saves are gone, they may have a cloud save solution but because is Nintendo they won't even bother on implementing even if it were a paid service
 
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elBenyo

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I was expecting video streaming at launch, do they mean games or Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube because of the 3DS security fiasco?
 

xile6

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I'm really pissed off, if a friend borrows me a cartridge I won't be able to play with their save progress, there goes away the share idea, and probably they did this for the hacking, again the save data is stored on the same system what about if it's broken, all your saves are gone, they may have a cloud save solution but because is Nintendo they won't even bother on implementing even if it were a paid service
Ummm ps4, xbox1, wii ,wii u??m
None of the saves were on the game.
In fact the DS and gameboy line are the only ones.
Everything else was on a memory card or system.
I dont see a problem with this and you can put the save data on the external sd card.

I can not say if they will have a cloud, but im sure they will have a tranfer or backup to sd card.
Idk if the saves are lock to accounts, but i dont see the fuss.
There doing what everyone else have been doing.
 

Fil o_O

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I hope that this wont mean that the console have HDMI protection.

If it did I wouldn't be able to hook it up to my receiver as it protected HDMI signals can't be passed through. For the protected ones my TV is already out of HDMI slots.

adding another reason to the list why not buy the Switch...
 

Sketchy1

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And thus shuts up every one who insisted the switch will be able to support 3ds games. :rofl2::toot:

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

So, no game bundle, no third part applications, no browser, nothing to say about Virtual Console or already purchased content, etc...

+ an expensive price...

WTF, this launch is the worst i've ever seen... and the launch date is in 45 days now.
To be fair, technically you purchased those games for your 3ds. So no standing if they release a new system that just isn't backwards compatible.
But I would figure bundles, because we could just search for bundle pack games to get a specific FW for homebrew
 

duffmmann

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I do hope that something comes of this line:"However, support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update." Specifically I just hope that they at some point add support for Wii U Pro controllers, both because they're very nice and comfortable controllers, but also because I already have 3 of them. I'm curious though, does anyone know, are the LZ and RZ triggers analog for the Switch?
 

GerbilSoft

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I hope that this wont mean that the console have HDMI protection.
It'll probably be similar to Wii U: HDCP disabled for the most part, unless you're using Netflix or similar. (Yes I know Switch won't have video streaming out of the box, but that might happen later.)
 

Fil o_O

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just hope that they at some point add support for Wii U Pro controllers,

What if they come up with the brilliant idea of selling support for controllers? Like the option to use the 3DS for Smash For Wii U. That app is not free. They could say, hey, if they don't want to buy our new controllers, let's charge them for the app that adds support for the old ones. I would instantly believe that if were officially allowed.
 

duffmmann

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What if they come up with the brilliant idea of selling support for controllers? Like the option to use the 3DS for Smash For Wii U. That app is not free. They could say, hey, if they want to buy our new controllers, let's charge them for the app that adds support for the old ones. I would instantly believe that if were officially allowed.

Nah, that's just silly, even for Nintendo. It would just come in a firmware update I'm sure, like when they added the ability to mirror the TV screen in the vWii. It made sense to charge for the Gamecube controller connection to the Wii U because there was a dongle to make it happen, which they charged $20 for, which is fair. If it can all be done digitally, I just don't see them charging for that feature. Imagine if they charged you to connect your Wiimotes to the Wii U.
 
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PedroKeitawa

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It'll probably be similar to Wii U: HDCP disabled for the most part, unless you're using Netflix or similar. (Yes I know Switch won't have video streaming out of the box, but that might happen later.)

Wait the Wii U too have this? But..im cofuse, i can recorder gameplay from my Wii U. That was i ment when i say my first comment. Maybe i should explain my self better becouse i don't want another PS3 situation when it come for recording.
 

Vanth88

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I can understand if people have issues with the storage or battery life but complaining about the fact there's no game included? Seriously? I remember way back in the day when I finally got an N64 for Christmas. Did I complain it not having any games in the box? Hell no! and do you know why? because it was a freakin N64! I was just glad enough I had one.

So far the only valid complaints for the Switch is the battery life and storage space. There's other minor issues but nothing that makes me swear off the thing entirely. The PS4 and Xbox One didn't have games included at launch either and the only reason they do now is because they have a well established market and want to entice even more buyers.

I didn't even buy a PS4 or Xbox One at launch. I remember thinking the PS4's launch lineup was the saddest excuse ever and the Xbox One was no better. Yet I finally ended up buying the PS4 a few years later.
 

chartube12

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They just can't get their shit together can they? Meanwhile the Wii U is still fetching 299 i stores and on eBay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's worse then that. Gamestop is selling used Wii-Us at 249. They are no longer taking trade-ins on Wii motes, wii sensor bar (even though one comes with the wii-u) and the stands for the wii u. Basically if you buy a used wii u from them, all you are getting is the system, the gamepad, the hdmi cable and both power supplies. That's very sad since they will only gave you 75 in credit and 50 in cash for the system (well same as cash right now for pro/plus members).
 

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  • No backwards compatibility with games and controllers for other systems. However, support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update.
  • No games being bundled with Nintendo Switch
  • 32GB of internal NAND memory, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. The system’s internal memory can be easily expanded as needed using microSDXC cards (up to 2TB, when available on the market)
  • Region-free
No backwards compatibility? ONLY 32 GB, most of which is taken up by the OS? No bundled games, either, which is kind of no surprise, either.

Region free is the only good thing, apparently.

Yeah, definitely waiting a year or two on this one. If ever.
 
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GerbilSoft

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Wait the Wii U too have this? But..im cofuse, i can recorder gameplay from my Wii U. That was i ment when i say my first comment. Maybe i should explain my self better becouse i don't want another PS3 situation when it come for recording.
Read it again. Wii U has HDCP, but it's only enabled when using Netflix or similar video streaming service. HDCP is disabled when playing games.
 
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Fil o_O

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Did I complain it not having any games in the box? Hell no! and do you know why? because it was a freakin N64! I was just glad enough I had one.

I felt the same. I got it for christmas along with mario 64 and I played only that one game for months until I got wave race 64. back then it was just simpler, it just was but markets are flooded now, every one's basically has more games than they can ever play or finish. this childhood-like love for a nintendo system is something I cherish deeply, I actually want my son to experience the same, but in reality I sometimes even fear that I will not be able to achieve that with him, and he's in the age! maybe it's not even Nintendos business decisions but a simple over-supply of entertainment that results in tedium and doesn't let the magic come through, because every bit of potential magic is dissected and over analysed and over criticised; and on top of that he have way higher expectations, or at least I do. When I got my N64, I didn't care about specs, cord length of the controller, durability of that stick, memory cards, Cartridge size... Of none of that I have a memory, I only remember being happy. Maybe that's the Switch's problem today, to not be able to be happy that easily anymore... I should stop
 

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