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In an exciting development for retro fans, new reports have revealed a patent from Nintendo that suggests that Nintendo DS games can be played on the Switch 2 via an innovative dual-screen system.
The discovery came from user MikeOdysseyYT, who posted images from the patent showing the Nintendo Switch playing games with two screens simultaneously, just like the original DS.
The images show several modes of displaying the second screen, including picture-in-picture, dual-screen mode, and a separate display via the device’s screen and external port
These technical drawings have led many fans to believe that Nintendo is testing a way to bring the DS game library to the Switch 2 via the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Since launching the Switch 2 in early 2025, Nintendo has managed to turn it into one of the company’s best-selling consoles, and with the Nintendo Switch Online service expanding to include Game Boy, N64, and even Virtual Boy libraries, adding the Nintendo DS would be the natural next step.
The original DS brought with it some of the most beloved games in Nintendo’s history, such as:
- Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- Mario Kart DS
- Animal Crossing: Wild World
- Professor Layton and the Curious Village
According to the patent, Nintendo is considering several solutions such as splitting the Switch 2’s screen in half to emulate the original two screens, showing the second screen as a side window or pop-up, and possibly supporting an additional screen via the handheld itself or a wireless connection.
The company is likely to re-adapt the game interfaces to run smoothly on a single screen as it did with NSO’s older console games.
Despite the excitement, there is no official confirmation from Nintendo yet, which means that the idea may just be a technical test or a future feature under consideration, but with the immense popularity of the Switch 2 and its strong sales, it makes sense that Nintendo would seek to expand the library of historical games available on the console.
Which game would you like to see return first, and do you think Nintendo will actually do it?
