Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima reveals Nintendo Switch isn't backward compatible with past Nintendo games or other Nintendo console controllers.

With the Nintendo Switch release now just a month away, gamers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Nintendo device. The console-handheld hybrid looks to shake up the gaming industry by offering gamers the opportunity to play both on their TV and on the go from a single device.

However, there are still quite a few unknowns about the Nintendo Switch. One area of interest for many gamers is the Switch’s backward compatibility with previous Nintendo console games. Fortunately, new information shared by Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima may help clear up some questions about the service, while also creating a few more.

Speaking with Time, Kimishima revealed Nintendo’s current plans for backward compatibility on the Nintendo Switch. Kimishima said:

"Switch is not backward compatible with games designed for other systems, and is not currently compatible with controllers designed for other systems. Support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update.”

This is certainly a disappointment for many Nintendo fans that were undoubtedly hoping to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch and bring their favorite games along with them. Granted, it was already known that the Nintendo Switch will have a unique cartridge for physical copy games, but now it’s set in stone that digital games from Wii U, 3DS, and other consoles won’t be available on the Switch – at least for now.

Kimishima pointed out that Nintendo is bringing some Wii U games to Nintendo Switch via port, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The Mario racing game will be available on Nintendo Switch April 28th, and will include all the original content from Mario Kart 8, along with new characters and items, and an updated battle mode. There have also been rumors that Bandai Namco is working on a Super Smash Bros port for the Nintendo Switch, but that has yet to be confirmed.

Hopefully, gamers will get a chance to play their favorite past Nintendo games on Nintendo Switch via backward compatibility or Virtual Console. If not, there will still be plenty of great titles available on the new Nintendo device, from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, to Yooka-Laylee and many more.

Hopefully, the Nintendo Switch’s intriguing tech and unique offerings will help it overcome any potential shortcomings or pitfalls it may face in the coming months. With PlayStation 4 setting sales records and Project Scorpio set to release later this year, the current console market will only get more saturated as 2017 progresses.

What do you think about Nintendo Switch’s lack of backward compatibility?

The Nintendo Switch is set to release March 3, 2017.