A new patent filing from Nintendo could indicate a potential DS app is on the way. nintendo switch online service. This patent, possibly related to Nintendo Switch Online, showed that users could connect one or two Switch consoles wirelessly to emulate the DS's dual-screen controls or switch between the top and bottom DS screens via controller input.
Originally released in 2004, the DS console family is Nintendo's best-selling system, with over 154 million units sold as of 2016. DS released several iterations over its lifespan, starting with the original “fat DS” model and later including the DS Lite and DSi systems. The DS was famous for its two screens, with touch input controls on the lower screen. The original DS and DS Lite also included a Game Boy Advance cartridge slot for backward compatibility. The DS was also home to two major generations of Pokémon games. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl to Pokemon Black 2 and White 2.
Nintendo patent could bring DS games online
Nintendo has filed patents for a DS-inspired system, but this latest discovery may be its most practical to date. As reported by Twitter user Mike Odyssey, a Nintendo patent application published on October 16th allows users with one or two Switch consoles to play Nintendo DS games through three methods. The first method is described in Nintendo's patent as a “parent and child” setup. In this scenario, a Switch “parent” device is wirelessly connected to a second Switch console, which becomes a “child” device. The parent becomes the top screen of the DS, and the child acts as the bottom screen of the DS for accessing touch controls. On paper, this method is similar to the Switch 2's GameShare feature, which allows a host console with a supported game to share it with nearby consoles, including consoles without the game in question.
The other two methods require only one Switch console, as Picture-In-Picture mode and Switch screen options are also listed in Nintendo's patent. Both methods were previously used in the Wii U's Virtual Console lineup, which allowed DS games to be played on a TV or Wii U GamePad. Additionally, the Wii U Virtual Console allowed users to prioritize which DS screens to control from the GamePad and organize them on a per-game basis.
With Nintendo Switch Online regularly adding games across multiple apps, the possibility of a Nintendo DS app would add even more value to the service. Needless to say, all of Nintendo's patent applications should be taken with a grain of salt.
- brand
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nintendo
- original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- operating system
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ownership
- solve
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1080p (portable) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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yes
The successor to 2017's Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, offering a hybrid experience that supports both home and portable gaming. The basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle, which launches on June 5, 2025 with games like Mario Kart World, comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, a strap for the controller, dock, AC adapter, HDMI cable, and Joy-Con 2 grip.
