Nintendo’s latest update for the Switch 2 will upgrade the performance of original Switch games played in handheld mode, as previously reported ign. When you turn on the new Handheld Boost mode, the Switch 2 will force original Switch games to run as if the console is connected to a TV, allowing for better visuals.
The update should give native Switch titles a much-needed visual boost, as they were previously limited to running in 720p in handheld mode – the resolution supported by the Switch 1’s screen. By running Switch 1 titles in TV mode, games should be able to take advantage of the Switch 2’s 1080p display.
In a support page on its website, Nintendo says you can turn on the feature by going to the Switch 2’s Settings menu, selecting “System,” and then clicking “Nintendo Switch Software Handling.” From there, you can turn “Handheld Mode Boost” on or off. The company does not provide a list of supported games, and instead notes that performance will “vary” depending on the title. “Some Nintendo Switch software will remain unaffected, and this option will have no impact on software for Nintendo Switch 2,” Nintendo says.
Since this feature runs supported Switch games in TV mode, Nintendo says “some functionality may be affected.” This means that the game cannot use the Switch 2’s touch screen and according to Nintendo, “attached Joy-Con 2 controllers can be treated as a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller”. Using handheld boost mode can also drain the Switch 2’s battery faster. This feature is now available with the Switch 2’s 22.0.0 update.
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