Nintendo promises "smooth transition" to the next generation of consoles
You will be able to use your current Nintendo account for Nintendo's new console. It is unclear whether the Switch successor will also be backwards compatible.
During an investor meeting, Nintendo's CEO Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed what many fans are hoping for: Current Nintendo accounts will also work on Nintendo's next console.
The Japanese video game manufacturer wants to enable customers to make the "smoothest possible transition" from the Nintendo Switch to the next generation of consoles. Nintendo already hinted at an investor meeting two years ago that it wanted to rethink its account strategy for future hardware.
Source: Nintendo
According to Furukawa, Nintendo has struggled in the past to move fans from one generation of hardware to the next. When launching a new console, Nintendo had to rebuild the relationship with its customers each time. This was partly due to the different account systems, which made cross-generational customer loyalty impossible.
According to the CEO, there are currently more than 290 million Nintendo accounts that are used on Switch and other mobile hardware. No wonder Furukawa wants to use this start-up capital for the next generation of consoles and not start from scratch again.
It is unclear whether there will be backwards compatibility with physical and digital Switch games in addition to the takeover of the Nintendo account. Furukawa's statements on ongoing customer loyalty give many fans hope that Nintendo has recognised the signs of the times.
Cover photo: Domagoj Belancic
My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.