Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Nintendo’s latest Switch 2 update adds Handheld Mode Boost for original Switch games.
- The feature forces docked behavior, allowing higher-resolution visuals in handheld mode instead of the 720p limit.
- Results vary by game, and the setting may have knock-on effects for things like battery life and touchscreen functionality.
When the Nintendo Switch 2 launched last year, one of the first questions for many owners was whether their existing game libraries might look any better on the new hardware. A new system update suggests Nintendo is still working on that answer, adding a feature that could improve how older games run when you’re playing on the go.
As reported by The Verge, Nintendo has introduced a new Handheld Mode Boost option as part of the Switch 2’s latest update. According to a support page on Nintendo’s website, enabling the setting makes original Nintendo Switch games run as if the console were docked, even while you’re playing in handheld mode.
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