Switch 2 & Switch Updates: More Than Just Stability
▼ Summary
– System update 21.0.0 introduces red icons for physical Switch 2 games and black icons for physical Switch games on the home menu to distinguish between physical and digital versions.
– GameChat improvements prevent games from going to sleep during online conversations and add features like disabling chat audio panning and maintaining connections when switching modes.
– The battery setting language was updated to “Stop Charging Around 80-90%” for Switch 2, clarifying the charge limit feature.
– Switch 2 has sold 10 million units in four months, while the original Switch has surpassed 154 million units, likely making it Nintendo’s best-selling console ever.
– Additional update features include canceling multiple downloads, accessibility enhancements like increased text-to-speech speed, and system stability improvements for both consoles.
The latest system update for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Switch delivers a suite of meaningful enhancements that go far beyond the typical stability fixes. While the patch notes for version 21.0.0 do include general performance refinements, the most significant changes involve new visual indicators, expanded communication features, and a more descriptive battery setting. This update marks a notable step forward in user interface clarity and system functionality.
A key visual improvement is the introduction of new symbols on the HOME Menu. These icons now clearly show whether a game is a physical or digital copy. For the Switch 2, the physical game icon is red, mirroring the color of its game cartridges, while the original Switch uses a black icon for physical titles. This small but impactful change helps users instantly identify their library’s composition.
The update also brings substantial upgrades to the GameChat feature. One of the most welcome fixes ensures that a game will not automatically enter sleep mode while a user is actively chatting with friends online. Additional GameChat improvements include a new option to disable “Chat Audio Panning” and the ability for a chat session to persist seamlessly when the console switches from a docked, wired internet connection to a handheld or tabletop mode using Wi-Fi.
For battery management, the system language has been refined for greater accuracy. The setting that limits maximum charge now explicitly states it will “Stop Charging Around 80-90%,” providing users with a clearer understanding of how to help prolong their console’s battery health over the long term.
This is the first major system update for the Switch 2 since the more minor version 20.5.0 was released in September, which was limited to stability improvements. The new features in version 21.0.0 demonstrate a continued effort to refine the user experience based on player feedback.
The rollout of this update coincides with impressive sales milestones for Nintendo. The Switch 2 has reportedly sold 10 million hardware units in its first four months on the market, a figure that does not even include sales from October following the launch of a special Pokémon Legends: Z-A bundle. Meanwhile, the original Switch has surpassed 154 million units sold, positioning it just behind the Nintendo DS and making it highly likely the best-selling console in the company’s history. Over the past four decades, Nintendo has sold over 870 million hardware units and an astounding 6 billion games.
In other Nintendo news, a Nintendo Direct presentation is scheduled for later this week, expected to debut the first trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. A recent leak from Pillsbury has already given fans an early, albeit accidental, glimpse of what Yoshi will look like in the upcoming animated sequel.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the version 21.0.0 patch notes:
Nintendo Switch 2
- New symbols appear above software icons on the HOME Menu to distinguish between physical and digital versions.Nintendo Switch
- New symbols appear above software icons on the HOME Menu to distinguish between physical and digital versions.
(Source: GameSpot)
