Switch 2 And Switch Get New System Updates, And They Add More Than Just Stability

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The latest system updates for both Switch 2 and the original Switch include stability improvements and a few other helpful changes. Update 21.0.0 makes it easier to see on the home menu if you own a game as a physical copy or downloaded it digitally. It also enhances GameChat functionality and provides a clearer description of battery life.

As a Switch fan, I’m really digging these latest updates! Nintendo’s adding new icons to show if a game is a physical cartridge or a digital download – the physical ones will have red icons, and digital games will have black ones, which is a nice touch. But the biggest changes seem to be for the Switch 2. They’ve tweaked GameChat so your game won’t pause when you’re chatting with friends online, which is awesome. And they’ve even made the battery charging limit setting more user-friendly – it now clearly says “Stop Charging Around 80-90%” instead of something more technical. It’s little things like these that make the Switch experience even better!

This is the first software update for the Switch 2 since version 20.5.0 came out in September. That previous update just focused on making the system more stable, which is a common – and often joked about – type of improvement for video game consoles.

Nintendo announced last week that the Switch 2 has quickly become a hit, selling 10 million units in its first four months. Sales figures don’t even include October, when a special Pokemon bundle was released, meaning the actual number is even higher. The original Switch has also been incredibly successful, exceeding 154 million units sold and closing in on the Nintendo DS. It’s likely the Switch is now Nintendo’s all-time best-selling console. Looking back over the past 40 years, Nintendo has sold more than 870 million consoles and 6 billion games.

A new trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will be revealed in a Nintendo Direct later this week. And thanks to an accidental preview from Pillsbury, we’ve already gotten a sneak peek at what Yoshi will look like in the movie!

Below are the patch notes for version 21.0.0:

Switch 2

  • Added symbols above software icons displayed on the HOME Menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or a digital version.
  • When multiple software downloads are in progress, there is now an option to cancel all.
  • If a console bundle includes a software download, there will now be an icon to “Receive Software.” It will display if the system is connected to the internet.
    • The icon will launch Nintendo eShop and you can proceed to the downloadable software.
    • You can still receive the software by navigating to Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu directly.
  • When finding users to send a friend request to, the Search for Users You’ve Played With option under Add Friendnow includes people you’ve interacted with in your friends’ GameChat rooms.
  • Added the ability to download data for a virtual game card even if the “Use Online License” setting is turned off.
    • This option is available in the Options of a virtual game card when accessed via Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
  • The following updates have been made for GameChat:
    • The game will not automatically go to sleep while chatting.
    • The option to turn off “Chat Audio Panning” has been added.
    • Chat can continue if the console goes from TV mode (docked) to Handheld or Table mode where this scenario changes the internet from a wired connection to a wireless connection.
  • The following updates have been made in Accessibility in System Settings:
    • When Use Text to Speech is turned on, the description of the predictive conversion character on the Japanese keyboard is now read out loud.
    • The upper limit of Text-to-Speech Speed was increased from 300% to 400%
  • The following updates have been made in Audio in System Settings:
    • The ability to change the audio mode for a wirelessly connected Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was added. “Stable” or “Low Latency” can be selected.
    • “Low Latency” will reduce audio latency when compared to “Stable” but may be more subject to interference in some wireless environments.
  • The following updates have been made in Display in System Settings:
    • “HDR Output” was renamed to “System Screen’s HDR Output.”
    • Improved the screen display when using Adjust Screen Size to make it easier to adjust.
  • The following updates have been made in Notifications in System Settings:
    • The option “Platinum Point Notification” was renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification.”
  • The following updates have been made in System in System Settings:
    • “Stop Charging Around 90%” was renamed and updated to “Stop Charging Around 80-90%”
    • Thai and Polish were added to the list of options under Language.
      • Thai and Polish will only be available in software when it supports the respective language.
  • General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Switch

  • Added symbols above software icons displayed on the HOME Menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or a digital version.
  • Added the ability to download data for a virtual game card even if the “Use Online License” setting is turned off.
    • This option is available in the Options of a virtual game card when accessed via Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
  • The information regarding Save Data Cloud Backup that appears when launching certain software has been updated.
  • The option “Platinum Point Notification Settings” was renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification Settings” in the Notifications menu in System Settings.
  • Added the ability to disable the following options when performing a system transfer from a Nintendo Switch system to a Nintendo Switch 2 system using System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 in System Settings.
    • Redownload Software on Nintendo Switch 2
    • Transfer Album Data
  • Added the ability to adjust the volume from the Quick Settings menu while in VR mode.
  • General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

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2025-11-11 19:13