(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
A new update for the Nintendo Switch 2 improves visuals for original Switch games played on the latest console.
The new option, called Handheld Mode Boost, is part of Nintendo’s latest software version, 22.0.0. The Switch 2 can use this tool to improve graphics by emulating a docked experience for original Switch games, but Nintendo notes there are drawbacks.
A Nintendo support page, as spotted by IGN, says it will likely increase power consumption, meaning your Switch 2’s battery won’t last as long as when playing these games without Handheld Mode Boost turned on.
It also says that some game instructions may be incorrect or fail to work because the title thinks it's in handheld mode. It may also affect the touch screen experience, and the change means your Switch 2 registers Joy-Con 2 controllers as a Switch 2 Pro Controller.
It's up to you whether you want to experiment with the mode to see if it makes titles harder to play, or whether the improved visuals are worth the risks of games being harder to control. According to Nintendo, the experience will "vary based on the software."
This new mode won't affect Switch 2 games in any way, and Nintendo has confirmed it's only for older games.
To activate the feature, after downloading the latest software, select System Settings on the home screen > System > Nintendo Switch Software Handling, and then select Handheld Mode Boost.
This turns the feature on for all original Switch games, and you'll need to manually turn it off when you want to play titles that don't work well with it switched on.
Other parts of this update allow you to add private notes about your online friends to help you keep track of who they are, and there are video quality improvements within GameChat.
There are other smaller additions, such as easier button controls for rewinding videos in the Nintendo eShop, and improved breakdown of storage capacity by data type, helping you understand what's on your system's memory or a microSD card.