2025 is shaping up to be a really exciting year for the video game industry. Long-awaited games likeCivilization 7,Assassin’s Creed Shadows,Monster Hunter Wilds, andAvowedall have release dates already confirmed, and titles likeBorderlands 4,Ghost of Yotei,Doom: The Dark Ages,Fable, andGrand Theft Auto 6are all slated to drop sometime next year. Of course,Nintendois also set to make a huge appearance next year, withthe Nintendo Switch’s successorrumored to hit store shelves in 2025.
While an official reveal ofNintendo’s next console is still yet to happen, the company has revealed a few details about the Switch’s successor in the last few months. One recent confirmation is that the Nintendo Switch’s successor will be backwards compatible and that it will carry over Nintendo Switch Online, a decision that could end up being a bit of a double-edged sword for the new console.
The Potential Positives of Nintendo Switch Online Being Used for the Switch’s Successor
Nintendo Switch Online Could Bring Its Library of Retro Games to the Switch’s Successor
Over the last six years, Nintendo Switch Online has built quite an impressive library of retro video games. What started as just a few classic NES games to thank fans for purchasing Switch Online has turned into a vast selection ofNES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and even Sega Genesis titles.
At the time of writing, Nintendo Switch Online is home to over 300 retro games, including classicNintendo franchises likeThe Legend of Zelda,Super Mario,Donkey Kong,Metroid, andKirby, along with a plethora of beloved third-party titles. With retro gaming getting increasingly more expensive over the last few years, it’s great to have such a stacked library all in one spot, and hopefully it should all carry over the upcoming Nintendo Switch successor.
Nintendo Switch Online’s Continuation Keeps Old Games Alive
Over the last two years or so, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of multiplayer-only games that are no longer playable due to their servers being shut down.EA’s recent shutdown of games likeBattlefield 3,4, andHardlineis the perfect example, removing fans' official means to play the beloved games. The news that the Switch’s successor will carry over to Nintendo Switch Online hopefully means that multiplayer-focused Switch titles likeSplatoonandSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatewill continue to live a while longer.
The Potential Downside of Nintendo Switch Online Being Used for the Switch’s Successor
Nintendo Switch Online Doesn’t Have The Best Infracstructure
WhenNintendo Switch Online first launched in 2018, it was met with a loud wave of criticism due to the service’s poor network performance. Though Nintendo has updated NSO many times over the years, its issues have mostly persisted. Severe lag is simply an expected part of using Nintendo Switch Online, and if that continues with the Switch’s successor, that could deal quite a blow to upcoming multiplayer games.
Similarly, Nintendo Switch Online lacks many of the features the gaming world has come to expect from a paid online service. NSO still lacks a dedicated party chat system and doesn’t let players directly message one another via the console itself. If the Nintendo Switch successor is carrying over Switch Online, then it needs to come with infrastructural improvements.
MORE:Why Now is the Best Time to Play Perfect Dark on Nintendo Switch Online
