The first generation DS could play GBA games.
The original Wii could play GameCube games.
The 3DS ran DS games.
The GBA ran GB and GBC games.
The WiiU could run most Wii games.
Nintendo has history making backwards compatibility a selling point of it help sell consoles.
I still play, I can see me running out of desire to play as much with the changes to the way new content is delivered.
Unless something changes soon for the better I can’t see the game staying afloat for more than the next couple of years. Which is a real shame.