Nintendo has released a new firmware update for the Switch and Switch 2 on March 16, with Version 22.0.0 going live with a new “Handheld Mode Boost” for the latter console. When enabled, it allows compatible Switch software to run as if in TV Mode. In other words, backward-compatible Switch games will run as if they were in Switch 2’s docked mode — what Nintendo describes as running software “as if in TV Mode.” This means a game’s resolution can be upgraded as far as 1080p, a considerable improvement over the original Switch’s 720p handheld display, though the extent of the upgrade will vary by title.
Aside from the “Handheld Mode Boost,” both consoles received the same three updates: changes to the virtual game card animations in the HOME Menu, the ability to save private notes on friends in your Friend List, and a Parental Controls notification that alerts a parent’s device when the PIN is entered on the console.
The Switch 2 receives the above along with more significant upgrades. GameChat was expanded to allow invites for friends who haven’t completed initial setup, and shared game screen quality was improved. Users can now rewind or skip 10 seconds during video playback in the eShop and News app. Album’s automatic upload options were expanded. The storage menu now shows a breakdown of capacity by data type for both system memory and the microSD Express card. Airplane Mode now remembers individual Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC preferences. Text-to-Speech can now read Album content. An audio test option was added for 5.1 surround sound. Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian were added to GameChat’s voice-to-text languages.
However, the update has not been without issues. Some Switch 2 users have found their installed games suddenly inaccessible after updating, tracing the problem back to their microSD Express cards no longer being detected by the console. The issue appears to affect multiple storage brands, with the 1TB PNY card drawing the most attention in user reports.