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Doug Bowser confirms digital BC with Switch 2?

ManaByte

Gold Member
Inverse interviewed Doug Bowser and asked him about the Switch 2 Gamescom rumors:

They’ve since gone in and edited the interview to remove him talking about using the Nintendo account to reduce the “dip” from one generation to another. Guess Nintendo got to them.

This is the original quote:

 

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
It would be rather lame if they did not include the capability. Nintendo is the only console I buy physical for, and really only for the tentpole releases. All the games I would want to play on Switch 2, I own physically.

At least include it with the launch version, the way DS had GBA bc. If they want to get rid of it with a revision or “Lite” version so be it.
I don’t expect cartridge support to be in every console of theirs going forward, but it should be there for now. Also if there’s no support for Switch carts then what the heck will Switch 2 games be on? I doubt they’re going all digital so soon.
 

ResurrectedContrarian

Suffers with mild autism
At least include it with the launch version, the way DS had GBA bc. If they want to get rid of it with a revision or “Lite” version so be it.
I don’t expect cartridge support to be in every console of theirs going forward, but it should be there for now. Also if there’s no support for Switch carts then what the heck will Switch 2 games be on? I doubt they’re going all digital so soon.
Nintendo should never drop physical games, and I doubt that they have any plans to do so. It's critical to their unique hold on the family market.
 

Dr.D00p

Member
I would have thought that physical BC depends on how much they can increase the bandwidth for faster transfer speeds and much larger capacity carts, on the same physical connection.
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
Digital BC is cool but what about physical? DS to 3DS had this, so there's no reason not to have it on Switch 2 since they're still using the same architecture.
 

Draugoth

Gold Member
That seems like a fetish you have.

Just a really polluted mind.

Inverse interviewed Doug Bowser and asked him about the Switch 2 Gamescom rumors:

They’ve since gone in and edited the interview to remove him talking about using the Nintendo account to reduce the “dip” from one generation to another. Guess Nintendo got to them.

This is the original quote:



Nintendo Switch has a 100m user install base, it would be dumb not take advantage of that
 

DonF

Member
Switch is the console I like digital the most, for it's portability. But I do have some physical releases that I would hate to lose in the upgrade.
 

analog_future

Resident Crybaby
I think the massivei dropoff from the Wii to the Wii U was a humbling experience for Nintendo, and I think they're going to do everything they possibly can to make sure they don't alienate their customer base with the Switch 2.

I think this means that the Switch 2 will almost certainly have full BC, but I think it also means the Switch 2 is going to play it very safe, and will essentially just be improved hardware compared to the Switch 1.


Which is totally fine with me.
 

ReBurn

Gold Member
I've mostly moved to digital on Switch but I do still have a few physical games. If there's no physical BC I'll probably just sell my carts and use the cash to buy digital versions.
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
I think the massivei dropoff from the Wii to the Wii U was a humbling experience for Nintendo, and I think they're going to do everything they possibly can to make sure they don't alienate their customer base with the Switch 2.

I think this means that the Switch 2 will almost certainly have full BC, but I think it also means the Switch 2 is going to play it very safe, and will essentially just be improved hardware compared to the Switch 1.


Which is totally fine with me.
so long as that improvement is more than 2x a jump i am happy. Anything below that could just as easily have been a pro model
 

ResurrectedContrarian

Suffers with mild autism
I couldnt figure out what BC meant
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Doug Bowser Confirms Digital B.C.
 

L*][*N*K

Banned
I really hope it is both digital and physical, I wish they would offer options like 20$ for a next gen upgrade
 
Clickbaity as hell, honestly. Bowser confirms literally Nothing of the kind nor does he speak with any specificity, either. His comments contain zero new information.

He is just reaffirming what we’ve already heard from Nintendo about future platforms which is that Nintendo Accounts will allow for a much easier transition from one platform to the next and not cause the issue Nintendo’s had in the past of a very rough transition from a popular console to a not-so-popular console. And that they aim to the avoid the feast-to-famine cycles going forward.

Which is vitally important now more so than ever, given that they only have one platform now instead of two. Where in the past the handheld platform could pick up the slack if the home console was dragging, or vice versa. Now with a hybrid system, the platform *has to do very well.
 
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StereoVsn

Gold Member
Considering prevalence of physical in Japan and most of Asia, Nintendo would be crazy not to have physical BC.

Then again, you never know. I am mostly physical with the Switch so definitely wouldn’t buy into the new non BC console for a few years at least.
 

deriks

4-Time GIF/Meme God
Nintendo branded SD card, like the xbox with it's special expansion drive.
kidding (I hope)
There's SD with like 300mb per second to read. It's expensive as fuck, but it has

I can see the Switch using something like 100mb or something. It's kinda normal
 

Magic Carpet

Gold Member
There's SD with like 300mb per second to read. It's expensive as fuck, but it has

I can see the Switch using something like 100mb or something. It's kinda normal
I've read nothing about the actuall carts that Nintendo uses for their physical releases. I wonder if they have improved read speeds or cheaper for larger storage for the developers.
This maybe why the Switch 2 is going all digital as they need faster read speeds that the current physical carts can't deliver.
 
They better fucking have a physical native BC

It would be rather lame if they did not include the capability. Nintendo is the only console I buy physical for, and really only for the tentpole releases. All the games I would want to play on Switch 2, I own physically.

I get why you'd want physical BC but I'm honestly at a loss as to why it would be that big of a deal if it doesn't. Not trying to be snarky, just trying to understand.

Are you that keen on selling your old Switch while keeping the games? I can understand also if it gave games a boost like the PS5 and XSX but who knows at this point?

It just seems so weird to me considering how small the Switch is. I also never trade in stuff. Stopped doing that decades ago.

Edit- I wasn't taking age and wear (stick drift) into account. The desire for physical BC makes infinitely more sense to me now.
 
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Dorfdad

Gold Member
At least include it with the launch version, the way DS had GBA bc. If they want to get rid of it with a revision or “Lite” version so be it.
I don’t expect cartridge support to be in every console of theirs going forward, but it should be there for now. Also if there’s no support for Switch carts then what the heck will Switch 2 games be on? I doubt they’re going all digital so soon.
A new variation of the cards? Sounds weird to have a physical reader and not support current media. Maybe it’s cost related?
 

Demigod Mac

Member
I get why you'd want physical BC but I'm honestly at a loss as to why it would be that big of a deal if it doesn't. Not trying to be snarky, just trying to understand.

Are you that keen on selling your old Switch while keeping the games? I can understand also if it gave games a boost like the PS5 and XSX but who knows at this point?

It just seems so weird to me considering how small the Switch is. I also never trade in stuff. Stopped doing that decades ago.
Wouldn't be surprised if digital-only BC meant you have to re-purchase games you already own on physical in order to play them on a Switch 2.
 

Bojanglez

The Amiga Brotherhood
It could be a great way to 'train' their physical game lovers to become digital first, knowing that there is more likely to be compatibility on future hardware with digital. Even if Switch 2 does support Swicth carts, If they ever do a Switch 3 I doubt they would support Switch 1.

With Nintendo though, wouldn't put it past them to do some kind of scheme with hardware retailers (maybe not game specialists), where people with cart versions can get a digital copy for a reasonable fee.
 
Idk what the rumored SOC is gonna be but is the rumor that switch 2 will be on a different architecture? So they would have the emulate?
 

MarkMe2525

Banned
I get why you'd want physical BC but I'm honestly at a loss as to why it would be that big of a deal if it doesn't. Not trying to be snarky, just trying to understand.

Are you that keen on selling your old Switch while keeping the games? I can understand also if it gave games a boost like the PS5 and XSX but who knows at this point?

It just seems so weird to me considering how small the Switch is. I also never trade in stuff. Stopped doing that decades ago.
I originally wrote this long explanation on why customers expect compatibility due to x86 architecture and precedent of previous Nintendo handhelds, but fuck that. My Switch is old, the battery sucks, and its sattled with shitty drift prone joycons. Every modern game console offered today includes bc and allows you to play your older games in higher fidelity. I expect the same from Nintendo.

Ultimately it's Nintendo's decision, but as a consumer, I don't have to agree with it.
 
I originally wrote this long explanation on why customers expect compatibility due to x86 architecture and precedent of previous Nintendo handhelds, but fuck that. My Switch is old, the battery sucks, and its sattled with shitty drift prone joycons. Every modern game console offered today includes bc and allows you to play your older games in higher fidelity. I expect the same from Nintendo.

Ultimately it's Nintendo's decision, but as a consumer, I don't have to agree with it.
I get it. Yea, I wasn't taking age and wear into account. Makes complete sense to me. 👍
 
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Kataploom

Gold Member
So what Iwata was saying back in 2015 and the reason I wonder WHY people still doubts if next Nintendo console is going to be BC.

They've been pretty clearly since before the Switch came out and Nintendo is very BC friendly since at least year 2000.

Don't fear losing access to your games, if anything it's a priority for them this time around.
 

Jinzo Prime

Member
Here is how I see it based on all the rumors:

There will be two SKUs for the Switch 2, cheaper All Digital, and expensive Digital/Physical. Both will be backward compatible with digital Switch 1 games, but you need the Digital/Physical one to play Switch 1 carts.
 

rofif

Can’t Git Gud
This is something that makes me anxious on ps5.
I am getting every ps4 and ps5 game physical.
but actually... am I fucking myself over?

I love physical but what if next consoles wont have drive or support BC only with digital ?
What if a game gets removed from psn and I am stuck with disc and nothing to play it on?
Like driveclub you know? Because I never got Driveclub on psn + dlc(bikes, tracks), I am now stuck with raw driveclub verison on disc.

But the fact that I own 1.0 version, can update it or now and it's not connected to fragile account is comforting in other ways.
fomo sets in both ways
 
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Woopah

Member
Idk what the rumored SOC is gonna be but is the rumor that switch 2 will be on a different architecture? So they would have the emulate?
It's an SoC from Nvidia called T239. My understanding is that it would require some effort to get BC working on Switch 2.
 

JimboJones

Member
Sure it does. This being the first time on a Nintendo system that your account carries over, is the indication. Your account has your purchase history.
WiiU had Nintendo accounts, I use the Nintendo account I created on WiiU on my Switch.

I do think it's very likely there will be backwards compatibility but having an account doesn't guarantee that. Just look at PS3 users going to PS4.
 

Miyazaki’s Slave

Gold Member
I can see an all digital unit from them for the next console. Digital BC with Switch 1 games and all digital purchases going forward for Switch NEXT.

I am waiting for Targets year recap to mention something about the removal of physical media...at least here in the states, with Walmart and Best Buy already removing planograms and floor space for physical media.
 

cireza

Member
I read the quote and he simply said that people would keep the same Nintendo account.

People just can't stop interpreting stuff.

If anything, I would see the fact that the quote was removed as a bad sign for BC.
 
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