Switch 2 Casts a Backwards Compatibility Spell: Some Games Work Like a Charm, Others Get a Bit... Glitchy
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Nintendo's latest Switch 2 update successfully irons out backward compatibility kinks for five games, including the ever-popular Warframe, but simultaneously flags a fresh batch of quirks and outright issues for another five titles, proving that bringing old magic to new hardware is an ongoing, often glitchy, quest.
Right, mates, gather 'round, because Nintendo's latest moves with the Switch 2's backward compatibility are a bit like trying to perfectly brew a potion – sometimes it’s a stunning success, and sometimes you end up with a bubbling mess that smells vaguely of burnt toast and regret. It’s never a simple flick of the wrist, is it?
I’ve been tinkering with the news from Dominik Bošnjak over at Game Rant (fair dinkum, a great spot for the nitty-gritty, and you can find the original piece here), and bloody hell, it’s a classic Nintendo tale of two halves. On one hand, we’ve got some genuine good news for our cherished old Switch libraries. On the other, well, let’s just say some games are still giving the new console a bit of a headache.
First, the good stuff, because who doesn't love a success story? Nintendo's rolled out the 20.5.0 update for the Switch 2 (yes, that’s right, September 2025 – we’re practically living in the future!), and it’s brought full compatibility to five Switch 1 titles that were, apparently, a bit wonky. We’re talking about **Warframe**, **Deemo Reborn**, **Ultra Age**, **Library of Ruina**, and **Powerful Pro Baseball 2024-2025**. Now, I don't know about you, but seeing Warframe, a game that's basically a black hole for my free time, get the all-clear for the Switch 2? That's genuinely exciting. Imagine blasting through hordes of Grineer with the shiny new console's muscle – that’s the kind of magic I signed up for! It’s always a win when a big, live-service title makes the jump smoothly, ensuring its dedicated player base doesn't miss a beat. For smaller, beloved gems like *Deemo Reborn* and *Library of Ruina*, it means their unique experiences aren't left behind in the console generation leap, which is crucial for game preservation and player choice.
Now, here’s where the plot thickens, or perhaps, where the spell gets a bit fuzzy. While some games are getting their VIP passes to the Switch 2 party, Nintendo also updated the eShop pages for *another five Switch 1 titles*, flagging some freshly identified compatibility issues. It’s like they fixed one leak in the wizard’s tower, only to find another five bubbling up in the basement! The games currently experiencing a bit of digital turbulence are:
* **Jelly Troops**: This one's been flagged as currently *unsupported* due to unspecified progression problems. Unspecified, eh? Sounds like the kind of bug that makes you restart a dungeon just as you were about to face the boss. Annoying, to say the least. * **Transistor**: Ah, a Supergiant classic! But here’s the rub: players are advised *not to remove the console from the dock* in certain parts of the game, lest it stop “functioning correctly.” Bloody hell, that’s a very specific, and potentially game-breaking, quirk. It’s almost like the game gets separation anxiety from its dock, which, for a portable console, is a bit of a laugh, isn't it? * **Mugen Souls**: This one’s having trouble correctly displaying certain items after they're obtained. Now, I don't know about you, but in an RPG, not seeing my shiny new loot properly is a major buzzkill. Is my legendary sword glowing or just a pixellated blob? The suspense is killing me! * **Subway Simulator 2025: City Train**: Flagged for animation issues. Look, I get it, simulating a subway isn’t always the most visually dynamic experience, but if my virtual train drivers are moonwalking or phasing through the floor, that’s going to break the immersion a bit, won’t it? Though, I must admit, a moonwalking subway conductor *does* sound like an interesting feature. * **Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning**: This one previously had progression issues that have been patched up (Hooray!), but apparently, some visual glitches are still lingering in certain areas. It’s like they fixed the big, ugly dragon, but left a few rogue goblins running around causing minor mischief. Can't win 'em all, I suppose.
Nintendo, bless their cotton socks, has been pretty upfront since the Switch 2's official announcement in January 2025. They warned us that backward compatibility wouldn't be *absolute*, largely due to specific hardware needs. Remember *Ring Fit Adventure*? That nifty accessory relies on the original Joy-Cons, which, let's be fair, makes a direct port a bit tricky. They also cautioned that unforeseen issues could crop up, and well, here we are. It’s a testament to the complexity of these things, really. Porting games from one console generation to the next isn't just a simple copy-paste, especially when hardware architectures evolve.
What’s particularly interesting, or perhaps, predictably Nintendo-esque, is how sparse the official patch notes are. The 20.5.0 update is compact, quick to download, but its notes don’t delve into any specifics about these backward-compatibility fixes. It’s a pattern we’ve seen before – a quiet, almost ninja-like approach to updates. On one hand, it’s good that they’re getting things done without a lot of fuss. On the other, a digital wizard like myself always wonders about the *how* and *why*. What exact incantation did they use to get Warframe running smoothly? Was it a simple tweak, or did they have to realign several digital ley lines?
From a player's perspective, this backward compatibility dance is crucial. Our gaming libraries aren’t just a collection of plastic cartridges or digital licenses; they're chronicles of our gaming lives. The ability to carry those experiences forward to a new console is a huge selling point and a big win for game preservation. Imagine having to repurchase all your favourite Switch 1 games just to play them on the Switch 2 – that would be a nightmare scenario, wouldn't it? So, while these glitches are a bit of a faff, the fact that Nintendo is actively investigating and working on solutions is definitely a silver lining.
Ultimately, this latest round of fixes and flagged issues shows that backward compatibility isn't a magical, one-and-done enchantment. It's an ongoing process, a continuous balancing act between old tech and new capabilities. It's messy, it's complicated, but it's vital. And hey, at least we know Nintendo is on the case, even if their patch notes are as enigmatic as an ancient scroll. We'll keep an eye on those 'unforeseen issues,' and I reckon we’ll see more updates as the Switch 2 matures. Here's hoping the next batch of fixes makes even more old favourites work like a dream, without any new, peculiar docking requirements or invisible items. A gamer can dream, right?
Tags: Nintendo Switch 2, Backward Compatibility, Gaming News, Console Gaming, Game Preservation
Original article: Game Rant