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

NINTENDO-SWITCH-1.png

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.)

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zoogie

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JeepX87

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Well, there's PS Now for PS3 games now. Also, some Xbox 360 games are compatible with Xbox One. I think they're all digital though. Really, it seems the competition is backwards compatible and Nintendo isn't. At least until they come out with some kind of PS Now like system.

For BC with Xbox One, Blue Dragon isn't definitely on digital so you have to buy physical copy to run this game in Xbox One.
 

NoNAND

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But will it have newer editions with bundled games like Switch Deluxe or New Switch or Switch Edge with an ede screen(like samsung phones) faster processing power 4k uhd graphics etc etc im the future?
 

F4LK

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But will it have newer editions with bundled games like Switch Deluxe or New Switch or Switch Edge with an ede screen(like samsung phones) faster processing power 4k uhd graphics etc etc im the future?
Screw all that, all i want is the switch banana:
e144292a092aac663fe3693c3b9eba5e.png

rip almighty iwata ( ;-; ) 7

 
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Viri

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32gb and no usb port? I hope those games aren't installing on that tiny nand memory, because big SD cards aren't cheap like 60 dollar 1tb external drives.

RIP digital games
 

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32gb and no usb port? I hope those games aren't installing on that tiny nand memory, because big SD cards aren't cheap like 60 dollar 1tb external drives.

RIP digital games
SD Card like the 3DS
 
Last edited by F4LK,

regnad

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No controller backwards compatibility means no VC Mario Sunshine or Luigi's Mansion. I just don't see how you could pull those off without analog shoulder buttons.
 

Viri

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True :P

TBH, it'd be neat if Nintendo finally gives us more than shitty 32gb free space...
Sony and xbone have 500gb to 1tb
Well, thinking about it, Nintendo designed this console to be portable. So, I guess walking around with a usb cable hanging down and a hard drive on the floor, isn't exactly "portable". Still, I'm sure like 80~90% of people in the US will never take the damn thing outside, so, the option to use a usb hard drive would be nice and nice on the wallet.
 
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F4LK

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Well, thinking about it, Nintendo designed this console to be portable. So, I guess walking around with a usb cable hanging down and a hard drive on the floor, isn't exactly "portable". Still, I'm sure like 80~90% of people in the US will never take the damn thing outside, so, the option to use a usb hard drive would be nice and nice on the wallet.
I honestly wouldn't feel good going out with that thing.
If you drop it, you probably have a nice spider app on a $300 device or there are fuckers that try to steal it.
 

Pachee

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Well, thinking about it, Nintendo designed this console to be portable. So, I guess walking around with a usb cable hanging down and a hard drive on the floor, isn't exactly "portable". Still, I'm sure like 80~90% of people in the US will never take the damn thing outside, so, the option to use a usb hard drive would be nice and nice on the wallet.
The console should support a external drive while docked (drive plugged to the dock), that is perfectly doable and would help people manage their libraries of games and choose what they wanted to bring with them.
Just another wasted good feature it could have. It would be like a charging station of games.
 

Viri

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The console should support a external drive while docked (drive plugged to the dock), that is perfectly doable and would help people manage their libraries of games and choose what they wanted to bring with them.
Just another wasted good feature it could have. It would be like a charging station of games.
USB is Nintendo's headphone jack!
 

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