It comes a day after the Japanese gaming giant downgraded its annual sales forecast as it reported a 60% plunge in net profit for the first half of this financial year.

The company has promised news on the successor to the Switch – now in its eighth year – by the end of March.

“Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch,” said a post attributed to company president Shuntaro Furukawa on an official X account.

“Further information about the successor to Nintendo Switch, including its compatibility with Nintendo Switch, will be announced at a later date,” the post added.

The Switch’s online subscription service will be available on the new product as well, it added.

Both a handheld and TV-compatible device, the Switch became a must-have distraction among all age groups during the Covid-19 pandemic, helped by hit games such as “Animal Crossing”.

Switch unit sales decreased 31% on-year for the April-September period, Nintendo said Tuesday.