Michael Beckwith
Published November 25, 2025 5:49pm
Updated November 25, 2025 5:50pm
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You’re officially out of excuses to not be playing this (Square Enix)
Five months since the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch, fans are thrilled to learn it can finally run one of the Switch 1’s best games.
Although the Nintendo Switch 2 is backwards compatible with Switch 1 games, there are inevitably some that don’t work, especially those, like Ring Fit Adventure, that make unusual use of the Joy-Cons.
While the majority of Switch 1 games could run on Switch 2 at launch, Nintendo’s website detailed a list of games that, for whatever reason, suffered issues when played on the newer hardware.
This didn’t involve any particularly big games, with most being obscure indie titles, but unfortunately Square Enix’s award-winning NieR:Automata was one of the exceptions.
Not only is NieR:Automata one of the best action role-playing games of the modern era (thanks in part to it being handled by Bayonetta studio PlatinumGames), but it had a surprisingly solid Switch 1 port.
Unfortunately, fans quickly discovered the game would crash frequently when played on Switch 2, but that’s no longer an issue. While Nintendo seems to have got rid of the full list of Switch 1 games incompatible with Switch 2, it does let you search for individual games to see if they’re backwards compatible or not.
Checking for NieR:Automata reveals that ‘previously identified issues have been fixed,’ which means the game is fully supported on Switch 2. This doesn’t mean it will necessarily run any better (it’s locked to 30 frames per second on Switch 1), but at least it will work and not constantly crash.
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This has also coincided with a new firmware update for the Switch 2, which has fixed a few other general issues related to system transfers between Switch 1 and Switch 2 consoles and wireless controllers and earphones sometimes not connecting.
Over on Reddit, many Switch 2 owners are thrilled with the NieR:Automata news, although some can’t help but wish the game would see a performance boost or upgrade to bump up its frame rate and resolution.
‘While I’m happy I can finally play it now, this deserved an actual Switch 2 upgrade,’ says one fan, while another concurs with, ‘It would be incredible if they included improvements for Switch 2 and removed the resolution and frame rate lock.’
Others, however, are just happy to be able to play it on Switch 2, with one person admitting they had deleted the game just last month, but will now be redownloading it.
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‘Was literally gonna buy this on PC last night but now I’ll pick up the physical on Switch,’ says another fan.
If you’re a Switch or Switch 2 owner and have yet to get the game yourself, it’s available for £34.99 on the Nintendo eShop and includes all of the DLC too. Sadly, it’s not part of Nintendo’s Black Friday sale.
NieR fans need to make the most of what they have considering there’s still no sign of a sequel, despite how well NieR: Automata has sold since its 2017 launch.
Earlier this month, series director Yoko Taro did admit in a 4Gamer interview (translated by Automaton) that he’s been working on a lot of projects that keep getting cancelled. Hopefully, NieR 3 wasn’t among them.
Will it be called Ni3R? (Square Enix)
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