The Original Nintendo Switch’s Days Are Numbered.
When I reviewed the Nintendo Switch 2, which launched in early June, I decided it was worth buying eventually, but probably not right away. Then the console hit the market with the biggest gaming launch ever , so I won’t hide my mistakes, but I stand by my opinion: up until now, the Switch 2 has been a great way to play enhanced Switch 1 games, but it hasn’t had many exclusives, so you’ve generally been able to play the latest Nintendo games without upgrading (unless you’re an impatient Mario Kart or Donkey Kong fan ).
But now it seems that’s all changing, and if you haven’t picked up a Switch 2 yet, it might be time to take the plunge. On Wednesday, at its financial results briefing , Nintendo acknowledged: “Going forward, we will shift our focus to developing Nintendo Switch 2 and expanding our business around this new platform.”
This doesn’t mean support for the original Switch is immediately ending, but despite the latest Pokémon game having just released two weeks ago, it does mean the system is preparing for retirement. Despite the Switch’s success (154.01 million lifetime sales!), the transition makes sense. The console is already eight years old and was already running on older hardware when it launched . Continuing to work on compatibility between Nintendo’s latest games and the original Switch could delay development of the Switch 2, and with such a large player base already committed to the Switch 2 (the successor system has sold 10.36 million copies as of September 30th), the company likely doesn’t see the need.
Can I still buy Switch 1?
Device sales are not currently affected if you want to play the existing original Switch library but don’t yet own one for some reason. In the same report, Nintendo stated that it will continue selling the original Switch, “taking into account consumer demand and the business environment.” This is also consistent with Nintendo’s previous policy, as Nintendo waited three years after the original Switch’s release to discontinue the 3DS .
When should you buy a Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo didn’t offer any specific hints about its plans in its briefing, but it’s safe to assume the company’s announcement means it won’t begin developing new games for the Switch 1 that haven’t yet been announced. This means we likely already have an idea of what the last game developed for the Switch 1 by the company will be, after which content for the console will likely begin to dry up.
And, to be fair, the Switch’s swan song is fitting. Releasing on December 4th, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be the final first-party game for the Nintendo Switch. It’s the fruit of a complex development process that took almost as long as the Switch has been around, with its announcement coming just a few months after the console’s debut. Not a bad move. Like other recent Switch 1 games, Metroid Prime 4 will also receive a Switch 2 edition that improves performance and adds features like mouse controls , but you don’t currently need to upgrade to play it.
If you’re as stubborn as I am, you can probably wait to buy a Switch 2 until 2026, but to play Nintendo’s next big releases after that, you’ll have to move on.
What about third-party games?
The only exception to the upcoming Switch support discontinuation may be third-party games, which, according to this helpful chart from Reddit user u/ieatdragonz, are scheduled to be released at least until the end of next year. However, even these are starting to suffer, as many of these games are ports of titles already released on other platforms, while more demanding third-party titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are already starting to miss Nintendo’s latest-generation console.
What Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives are coming before next year?
While those who want to continue playing Nintendo games after December likely won’t be able to do without updating, there are reasons to upgrade before then, depending on your preferences. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza are available exclusively on Switch 2, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment , which launched today, is also not available on the original Switch. Kirby Air Riders will join these games later this month.
If you liked any of these games, that’s already a compelling reason to upgrade. If not, Nintendo will likely get to you at some point, shifting all its development efforts to a new console.
What about the smaller Switch 2 player base?
By shifting focus to Switch 2 game development, Nintendo is making life a little easier for its studios, but it’s also shrinking its active player base. While over 10.3 million players are significant, it’s still a fraction of the original Switch’s more than 150 million players. This means that sales of new Nintendo games could be hampered by the smaller overall audience, at least for a while. At the same time, releasing new exclusive games for the new console could easily boost sales of the new system. Furthermore, not all original Switch owners are currently buying all the new games.
At $450, the Switch 2 is quite expensive compared to its predecessor (though, to be fair, the previous system’s price recently increased due to tariffs , which has mitigated the difference), so it’s unclear whether its initial popularity will last long enough to rebuild Nintendo’s player base from the previous generation. But it’s clear the company is investing heavily in the system, and judging by its recent success, it has considerable resources.
This means that if you don’t want to be left behind when the next Zelda or Mario game comes out, it’s time to finally open your wallet. Frankly, I still prefer competing devices like the Steam Deck , but I also love this little red plumber, so it seems I have no choice but to start saving up gold coins.