2025 is shaping up to be quite a thrilling year for gamers around the globe. The video game industry is buzzing with anticipation for the arrival of long-awaited gems like Civilization 7, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Avowed, all of which have firm release dates set. We’re also eagerly anticipating the release of Borderlands 4, Ghost of Yotei, Doom: The Dark Ages, Fable, and, perhaps the most whispered about, Grand Theft Auto 6—all expected to launch next year. Meanwhile, Nintendo is gearing up for a major showcase in 2025, with speculations swirling around the release of the next-generation successor to the Nintendo Switch set to hit the stores.
Though Nintendo hasn’t officially unveiled its latest console, it has started to lift the veil on what’s in store for the Switch’s successor in recent months. One of the juicy tidbits confirmed is that the new console will be backwards compatible and will maintain continuity with Nintendo Switch Online. This strategy could, however, be seen as a double-edged sword for the upcoming console.
Now, let’s dive into what could be some promising aspects of carrying Nintendo Switch Online onto the next console.
Over the past six years, Nintendo Switch Online has curated an outstanding collection of retro games. What began as a humble offering of a few NES classics as a nod to Switch Online subscribers has now blossomed into an extensive library featuring games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and even Sega Genesis platforms.
Currently, Nintendo Switch Online showcases over 300 retro games, including iconic franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, and Kirby, not to mention numerous beloved titles from other developers. With retro games becoming increasingly expensive to own, it’s a boon to have such a rich collection accessible in one convenient spot, and there’s hope that all this content will seamlessly transition to the Switch’s successor.
Keeping Nintendo Switch Online alive into the next generation also means older games could have a longer lifespan. We’ve seen too many multiplayer-only games vanish as their servers are shut down, like EA’s shuttering of Battlefield 3, 4, and Hardline, leaving fans without an official avenue to enjoy these favorites. The news of Nintendo Switch Online carrying over suggests that titles like Splatoon and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate might stay in the loop for a while longer.
That said, there are potential concerns about this strategy.
When Nintendo Switch Online first rolled out back in 2018, it wasn’t exactly met with open arms due to severe network performance issues. Even with multiple updates over the years, the problems persist. A bothersome lag is still expected when using Nintendo Switch Online, and should these issues persist in the new console, it could severely impact the multiplayer experience for upcoming games.
Moreover, Nintendo Switch Online falls short in offering the features players now expect from a paid online service. It still doesn’t provide a built-in party chat system or allow players to directly message each other on the console. If the Switch’s successor indeed continues with Switch Online, major improvements in infrastructure are essential.
There’s more to discuss—like why now might be the perfect moment to dive back into Perfect Dark on Nintendo Switch Online—but those are topics for another day.
