Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl are now fully playable on Nintendo Switch 2 through backwards compatibility, after both titles experienced widespread crashing problems since the console’s launch.
The fix arrived via system firmware update 21.2.0, released simultaneously for both Switch 2 and the original Switch.
The problem that plagued Sinnoh trainers
Since Nintendo Switch 2 hit the market, players attempting to revisit the Sinnoh region through backwards compatibility encountered frustrating crashes that disrupted gameplay.
While not every session ended in a crash, the issue affected enough players within the Pokémon community to become a significant concern. The Nintendo eShop pages for both games now display updated compatibility status, confirming the problems have been resolved.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, remakes of the beloved 2006 Nintendo DS titles, launched for the original Switch in November 2021.
Developed by ILCA and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, these remakes brought Generation IV Pokémon back with enhanced graphics while maintaining the classic top-down perspective.
The games sold over 15 million copies worldwide, making the backwards compatibility issues particularly frustrating for the large fanbase eager to continue their adventures on the new hardware.
Beyond Pokémon: Other compatibility updates
The firmware 21.2.0 update didn’t just rescue trainers in Sinnoh. Cats on Duty, an indie title that also suffered compatibility problems, received fixes in the same update and now runs properly on Switch 2.
However, Nintendo identified a new issue affecting Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
While the game launches and plays on Switch 2, players may encounter audio glitches in certain areas, a problem Nintendo is presumably working to address in future updates.
These fixes demonstrate Nintendo’s commitment to ensuring its massive Switch library remains accessible on the new console, though the launch hasn’t been without hiccups.
As more players adopt Switch 2, expect continued firmware updates addressing compatibility concerns across the platform’s extensive game catalog.
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