Recent patent filings suggest that Nintendo may finally be working on bringing Nintendo DS games to the Nintendo Switch 2.
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| Nintendo Switch 2 Could Be Getting DS Games, According To New Patent |
While the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack already offers classic titles from the NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, and even the Virtual Boy, one major gap has remained: the Nintendo DS. Despite being one of the best-selling handheld consoles of all time, home to iconic games like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart DS, and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, DS titles have been absent from Nintendo’s modern re-release strategy.
That could soon change.
A New Patent Hints at DS Emulation in Switch 2
A recently discovered patent filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office reveals that Nintendo is exploring ways to bring dual-screen DS gameplay to the single-screen format of the Switch and Switch 2. The discovery was first shared by Twitter user Mike Odyssey, and the full document has since been verified as legitimate.
The patent outlines three potential display modes for DS games on the Switch 2:
- Dual Screen (Parent/Child Screens)
- Displays both DS screens simultaneously, with one acting as the primary and the other as a secondary window.
- Ideal for games where both screens are used continuously.
- Single Screen Mode (Picture-in-Picture)
- Shows the second screen as a small overlay in the corner of the main display.
- Useful for games where the bottom screen is used for menus or maps.
- Switch Mode (Switch Between Screens)
- Allows players to toggle between the top and bottom screens with a button press.
- Best for UI-heavy games where full-screen interaction is needed on either display.
These solutions aim to preserve the core functionality of DS games while adapting them to the Switch 2’s hardware.
Nintendo DS coming to NSO Confirmed! Patent Discovery of a lifetime! Breaking News! The following patent shows how Nintendo will manage the dual screen situation on Switch 2. You will have 3 options.
— Mike Odyssey (@MikeOdysseyYT) October 16, 2025
1. Dual Screen (Parent screen, child screen)
2. Single Screen Mode (Picture in… pic.twitter.com/MH1Ytv4Kfo
Well, the Nintendo DS sold over 154 million units worldwide and hosted more than 1,000 games, many of which have never been re-released. Unlike the Wii U, where DS games were available via the Virtual Console, no such option exists on the Switch.
Fans have long demanded access to DS classics, especially as physical copies become harder to find and often command high resale prices. If Nintendo brings DS games to the Switch Online Expansion Pack, it would mark a major expansion of its retro offerings.
A Sign of Bigger Plans?
The fact that Nintendo is now patenting solutions for DS emulation suggests serious development work is underway. This comes shortly after the surprising announcement that Virtual Boy games will be added to the Switch Online service, complete with a physical accessory, proving that even the most niche parts of Nintendo’s library are now being reconsidered.
If the Virtual Boy can return, the DS’s return seems not only possible but likely.
But as always with patents, filing one does not guarantee a product will launch. Companies often explore ideas that never reach consumers. However, the level of detail in this patent, along with Nintendo’s recent retro-focused initiatives, makes this one of the most credible rumors yet.