On June 19, Limited Run Games confirmed that the latestNintendo Switch 2firmware update resolved some backward compatibility issues with games that utilize the Carbon Engine. Limited Run Games stated that games likeTomba: Special Edition,Shantae, andRiver City Girls Zeroshould run properly onSwitch 2consoles with firmware version 20.1.5 or later.
Like its predecessor, the Switch 2 operating system receives periodic firmware updates to improve performance, fix outstanding bugs, and occasionally bring new user features. However, most firmware updates tend to address a non-specific list of bugs and stability issues. TheSwitch 2’s version 20.1.5 update was a case of the latter, as the patch notes only stated that general system stability improvements were made. Users must connect their Switch 2 consoles to the Internet to receive the 20.1.5 firmware update. Following a brief download, the console will automatically restart.
Although Nintendo was not specific about the changes that the new Switch 2 firmware update made, a game publisher came forward with some good news. Limited Run Games posted on social media that some Switch titles that utilize the Carbon Engine should now work properly on the Switch 2 after users update their consoles to version 20.1.5. The Carbon Engine allows retro games to be ported to modern platforms, and developers can use it to add some enhancements or features that were not in a game’s original release. Limited Run Games confirmed that 12 Carbon Engine titles were affected by a backward compatibility issue on the Switch 2,includingTomba: Special Edition,Felix the Cat,River City Girls Zero, andShantae. Before the firmware update, some of these games would not load correctly at startup, or would have buggy textures and performance issues.
Which Carbon Engine Games Were Fixed by the Switch 2’s 20.1.5 Update?
Alongside the backward compatibility news, Limited Run Games also providedan update on the recently releasedGex Trilogy, which still faces backward compatibility problems on the Switch 2. The company submitted a bug-fix patch last week to correct it, but the ongoing Juneteenth holiday in the US has delayed Nintendo’s approval process. However, Limited Run Games stated that the patch should be issued in the coming days.
In the meantime,Gex Trilogyhas been temporarily pulled from the Switch 2 eShop until the backward compatibility patch has been distributed and tested. With otherCarbon Engine titles likeBubsy in: The Purrfect CollectionandTomba 2still scheduled to launch in 2025, it remains to be seen how those games will perform on Nintendo’s new console moving forward.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on Jul 09, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
