Of all the Switch 2 rumors about power and features that have been flying around, this is the one I want to be true the most, and will be the most significant because it affects all current Switch owners and every game in the system’s library. Multiple sources are reporting that Switch 2 will not just be backwards compatible with the Switch’s library, but developers will have the ability to patch their games and give them performance boosts when they’re played on Switch 2. That means Nintendo can give games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the Hyrule Warriors games performance boosts so they run at a consistent and stable framerate and resolution, which in their current state, they do not.

This is how you get Switch users to upgrade, especially if there’s not anything in the launch lineup that appeals to them right away. Nintendo can say to Zelda fans, ‘we don’t have a Zelda game at launch, but on Switch 2 you can play Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and the Zelda Warriors games at 60 FPS….for free if you own them already on Switch.’ That’s a game-changer and that’s how you get Switch owners to upgrade to the new console.

The latest round of rumors makes mention of the Switch’s successor and how it’ll supposedly allow current Switch owners to continue their fun on the new platform. Apparently, the Switch’s follow-up will let Switch players bring their games over through backwards compatibility, but not just physically. In a move that many will no doubt hope to be true, the Switch successor may let you access your digital Switch library of software alongside your physical game cards.

The fun doesn’t stop there, though. The second part of the rumor claims that developers will be able to take advantage of the Switch successor’s power in order to enhance their original Switch games. We’ve seen this happen on other platforms, where last-gen games get a resolution and fidelity boost through new hardware. It would definitely be wonderful to see the same thing happen between Switch and its successor, and hopefully Nintendo agrees!

[Go Nintendo]