Nintendo released firmware updates for both Switch and Switch 2 last night, version 22.0.0 on both platforms, and they add a few interesting features.
The headline feature is that Switch games running on Switch 2 can now be run in “Handheld Boost Mode”. On Switch, games played in handheld mode run at 720p, but in docked or TV mode, they run at 1080p. This new Switch 2 setting allows Switch games to basically run in TV mode while playing handheld on Switch 2, boosting their resolution to 1080p. There are some asterisks, though.
The setting screen for turning on Handheld Boost Mode on Switch 2
Since the games are being tricked into running in TV mode, “some instructions may be incorrect or fail to operate correctly.” The mode also means that the touchscreen will not work. “Handheld Mode Boost may prevent Nintendo Switch software from using the system’s touch screen, and will cause attached Joy-Con 2 controllers to be treated as a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro.”
It’s also worth noting that this mode must be turned on manually. It is not turned on automatically by default following the update. You can read more about that specific update here.
You can also now add notes about the people on your friends list, but don’t worry – they won’t see the notes. Other updates include some menu animation changes, GameChat improvements, rewind and fast-forward options for eShop trailers, improved accessibility options, and more. You can read the full list of updates here. And you can read about the Switch updates here, which are fewer, but also include the ability to add notes about your friends.
