As detailed by Nintendo in the patch notes for Version 22.0.0, when enabled, this option will allow compatible Switch software to run as if it’s “in TV Mode” on the Switch 2 while in handheld. The Switch 2 has a display of 1080p in handheld, while the original unit is 720p in this mode, so expect some “improved” visuals.
Nintendo has also shared a page about this new feature, detailing the steps to activate it, and some additional details about how it works:
How to use Handheld Mode Boost on Switch 2
Follow these steps to enable or disable the Handheld Mode Boost setting on Nintendo Switch 2.
Information
When enabled, Handheld Mode Boost causes the performance of Nintendo Switch software while undocked to run as if it were being played in TV mode.
Complete these steps
Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
Scroll down through the System Settings menu and select System.
Scroll down on the right and select Nintendo Switch Software Handling.
Select Handheld Mode Boost to enable or disable this setting.
Additional information
While enabling this setting can result in improved visuals, it may also increase the system’s power consumption.
The effect of Handheld Mode Boost will vary based on the software. Some Nintendo Switch software will be unaffected, and this option has no effect on software for Nintendo Switch 2.
Because this option forces TV mode operation, some instructions may be incorrect or fail to operate correctly.
Handheld Mode Boost may prevent Nintendo Switch software from using the system’s touch screen, and will cause attached Joy-Con 2 controllers to be treated as a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
To use other controllers, first detach the Joy-Con 2 controllers from the console.
Image: Nintendo Life
As you can see in the additional information, while there may be improved visuals and similar performance to the software being played in TV mode, this option can also impact the console’s power consumption. Things like touch screen functionality are also disabled when playing. And this option has “no effect” on Switch 2 software.
And just remember – before you can use this mode, you’ll need to update your system’s firmware to Version 22.0.0. This feature is also obviously a Switch 2 exclusive. You can see what else is included in the latest system update in our patch notes post.
Will you be making of Handheld Mode Boost? Let us know in the comments.
Nintendo has released a new update for the Switch 2 and Switch this week, bumping the system firmware up to Version 22.0.0.
On the Switch 2, this update comes loaded with new GameChat features, language and accessibility updates, and multiple other improvements and updates. Most notably, though, it adds the new “Handheld Mode Boost“, which allows compatible Switch software to run as if it’s “in TV Mode” during portable play.
Nintendo has shared a guide on its official support page about how to access and use this new feature, which we’ve covered here on Nintendo Life in a separate post.
Below are the official patch notes for Switch 2’s Version 22.0.0 update:
Changed the on-screen text and animations when you load a virtual game card in the HOME Menu.
Added the ability to save notes about friends on your Friend List. The note content is not displayed to friends.
Added the ability to see and edit these notes from the Nintendo Switch App. The app must be on version 3.3.0 or higher to use this feature.
The following features were added to support GameChat:
Added the ability to invite friends to GameChat rooms you’re participating in. Some friends may not be able to be invited, such as supervised accounts.
Friends that haven’t finished GameChat initial setup can now be invited to GameChat. Some friends may not be able to be invited, such as supervised accounts or those who haven’t used a Nintendo Switch 2.
It may take a while for this change to be reflected after updating your console to system version 22.0.0.
Improvements were made to the quality of the game screen shared in a GameChat when expanded.
Added the ability to rewind 10 seconds/advance 10 seconds with the ZL and ZR Buttons when watching a full screen video in News or Nintendo eShop.
Added the option to add the following data to “Automatic Uploads” from Album.
Clip Video, Video saved as a screenshot, and screenshot with added text.
Added Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian to “GameChat Voice ⇔ Speech to Text” languages in Accessibility.
Text-to-Speech, under Accessibility, can now read the text in Album and during first-time setup.
Please see Nintendo Switch 2 First-Time Setup and Connection for instructions on how to turn text-to-speech on in the first-time setup.
Added the ability to see the breakdown of storage capacity by data type for the system memory and microSD Express card.
Added the ability to perform an audio test when “Linear PCM 5.1 Surround” is selected for TV Sound in Audio.
Changed the “Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea” region to “Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea/South East Asia” in Device.
Handheld Mode Boost will cause compatible Switch software to run as if in TV Mode, so certain functionality may be affected. Please see the on-device description for more details.
The following features were added to Airplane Mode:
When Airplane Mode is activated, the previously set preferences for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC while in Airplane Mode will be saved and applied.
Added the ability to individually enable or disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC during Airplane Mode from the Quick Settings.
Added the ability to see a notification in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application when the Parental Controls PIN is input successfully on the console. This can also be set up to be a push notification to your smart device.
The app must be on version 2.4.0 or higher to use this functionality.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.
The updates for Switch Version 22.0.0 include some adjustments as well as general system stability improvements. Here’s what’s included:
Changed the on-screen text and animations when you load a virtual game card in the HOME Menu.
Added the ability to save notes about friends on your Friend List. The note content is not displayed to friends.
Added the ability to see and edit these notes from the Nintendo Switch App. The app must be on version 3.3.0 or higher to use this feature.
Added the ability to see a notification in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application when the Parental Controls PIN is input successfully on the console. This can also be set up to be a push notification to your smart device.
The app must be on version 2.4.0 or higher to use this functionality.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.
Again, you can find out more about the handheld boost in our PSA. This update for the Switch and Switch 2 follows an update in January, which included some general stability improvements.
The Nintendo Switch App for mobile devices has also received an update today, bumping it up to Version 3.3.0. It allows you to now save notes about users on your friends list, to “help you keep track of who’s who” and also includes some other “small bug fixes and improvements”.
Have you downloaded this update yet? How are you finding it so far? Let us know in the comments.
Back in 2022, Tunic blew us away with its brutal battling, Zelda-inspired adventures, and deep secrets. Today, we’ve learnt that we’ll soon have the opportunity to do it all over again thanks to an upcoming Switch 2 update.
The game celebrated its fourth anniversary today, and to mark the occasion, publisher Finji announced that an update for the new Nintendo hardware is “on the way”. While there was no precise release date attached to the reveal, the team promised it was “working hard on it” and teased that we should all stay tuned for more info.
Of course, such little info means that we don’t know what’ll be included in the Switch 2 version just yet either, though based on the technical hiccups of the Switch 1 edition, we’d hope to see things running at a crisp 4K 60fps.
In fact, barring some pretty rough difficulty spikes, the game’s performance on S1 was one of the only faults we could find with the game at launch. “Tunic feels right at home on a Nintendo console,” we said in our review, “and we recommend it as a creative and concise adventure that both draws and expands upon some prestigious inspirations.”
Will you be checking out Tunic on Switch 2? Dodge roll into the comments and let us know.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that we said “boxed” there, and not “physical”, because once again, yes, this is another code-in-a-box situation.
The announcement was made on the Malaysian Nintendo website, confirming that the DLC will be available in “selected retailers” from 19th March. To be clear, you’ll still need a copy of Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Switch 1 or 2 to make the most of the download code, but we suppose it’s something for anyone who really wants a box on their shelf.
While a wider global release hasn’t been confirmed at the time of writing, both Scarlet and Violet andSword and Shield‘s DLC ended up getting a physical release later down the line (albeit with some content as a required download), so we wouldn’t be surprised to see Mega Dimension follow suit at some point.
Until then, you can still pick up the Z-A DLC digitally via the eShop. “The core of Pokémon and the highs of Pokémon Legends: Z-A just about manage to shine through in the Mega Dimension DLC,” we said in our review of the expansion, “but the repetitive Hyperspace dimensions, bland level design, and dull donut making stop this from being a true Mega Evolution for the game.”
What do you make of this code-in-a-box release? Let us know in the comments.
While titles like the upcoming Sprawl Zero may herald the dawn of the ‘millennial shooter’ on other platforms, Switch remains a comfortable home for the retro stylings of the boomer shooter. Games like Boltgun, Dusk, and Ion Fury make for enjoyable ’90s throwbacks, while the titles that inspired them, including DOOM, Quake, and Duke Nukem 3D also have well-optimised versions waiting on the eShop.
Auroch Digital’s Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War takes an era-appropriate IP and gives it the blood and pixels treatment. The result is a thoroughly entertaining addition to the boomer shooter roster.
Starship Troopers has had plenty of chances at video game glory over the years. Recent attempts have mostly focused on multiplayer experiences, often with middling success. Ultimate Bug War might be the perfect format for humanity’s assault on an insectoid alien race. It’s simple, violent, funny, and packed with fan service for lovers of Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 satirical masterpiece. The vintage format is guaranteed to appeal to an audience that discovered the movie on VHS.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
The game is framed as an item of propaganda, a simulated experience to train new recruits for the war against the bugs. Live-action interstitial sequences appear as mock interviews with veterans, along with goofy adverts about how all children can benefit from learning to mulch arachnids with assault rifles.
Casper Van Dien reprises his role as Juan “Johnny” Rico, now a grizzled one-eyed general. He is joined by the main subject of the game’s missions, Samantha “Sammy” Dietz. These sequences are a charming gift to fans of the movie (and its lesser sequels) and really nail the tongue-in-cheek satire of the post-novel franchise.
After you’ve finished orientation in a very familiar round of capture the flag, Johnny and Sammy send you to Klandathu to experience a recreation of the first bug offensive. You play as Sammy, taking down objectives across an open map swarming with bugs and your fellow troopers. After Big K, you visit key locations in the conflict and follow a story similar to that of the original film. Don’t expect any heavyweight narrative moments in-mission; most of the good writing is packed into those FedDev broadcasts.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
The non-linear mission structure is a nostalgic trek across a chaotic battlefield that will bring back fond memories of bygone military shooters like Medal Of Honour (when it existed) and Call Of Duty (when it was great). It is hugely enjoyable to have the freedom to tackle objectives in any order, while fending off enemies and hearing the frightened radio chatter of your squadmates. A reminder that sometimes the player can make their own spectacle.
This being a shooter of the boomer variety, everything has the added retro feel of looking straight out of the ’90s era of graphical innovation. Enemies and allies are jerky sprite models, and blood (bug green and human red) sprays in pixels all over the screen. It’s always a charming aesthetic, and it gels nicely with the goofy action.
The general mechanics of the missions are just as old-fashioned as the visuals. Most of what you will be doing consists of flipping switches, laying charges and shooting almost constantly. Gunplay feels good, though the weapon variety usually boils down to how fast a bug’s health bar goes down. There is plenty of heavy ordnance in the form of air strikes, grenades, and a chainsaw-wielding mech suit, all of which deliver a satisfying level of shock and awe.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
The added bonus here is the ability to play as the bugs themselves. Each campaign setting includes a mission where you fill the mandibles of an assassin bug. This special insectoid is a shapeshifting commander that can spawn arachnids and transform for combat and traversal. These levels are interesting RTS hybrids where the aim is to terrorise FedDev by destroying bases alongside your many-legged buddies. Both campaigns can be played independently, but there’s a nice option to jump into a bug mission right after a human one.
With the satisfying contrast of these two playstyles, it feels odd that Ultimate Bug War has no multiplayer at the time of release. Lacking any sort of co-op or PvP is bad enough, but a Trooper Vs. Bug mode would have been a lot of fun. There’s a scoring system and four difficulty modes to keep you coming back to missions, but solo-only content will hamper the longevity.
Despite its purposely dated style, this is a visually busy game. There are often dozens of bugs swarming around you and twice as many expendable humans. Everyone explodes in comically violent fashion and it’s a testament to the optimisation that both docked and undocked modes have consistent, smooth performance.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Better yet, in a mystifyingly rare occurrence, this Switch 2 version of Ultimate Bug War has mouse controls, and they work great.
Conclusion
Playing as a Trooper or a Bug in this stylised retro shooter is every bit as entertaining as the movie that inspired it, with a bonus hit of nostalgia for fans of golden-era military shooters. It doesn’t take a brain bug to realise that multiplayer would have been a great addition to round out the package, though.
Back in 2023, Mimimi Games, the Munich-based indie studio that almost single-handedly reinvigorated the real-time tactical genre over the previous decade, released its very best game to date. And then it shut down for good.
Of all the indie studio closures we’d had up to that point, this one felt like it got to me the most upon hearing the news. I was a huge fan, and it was a proper shock that a studio which had given us the sublime Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and Desperados 3 (genuinely two of my all-time favourite tactics games) could be in trouble or struggling at all. Surely these folks were living the high life, hoovering up the rewards for delivering two absolute stunners unto the world?
Instead, with the release of Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Mimimi, citing a mixture of burnout and the fact that profits weren’t meeting the cost of producing new adventures, said farewell. And that blows. It really does.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Let’s not be downbeat all the way through here, though, and instead try to focus on making this review a celebration of a game that I’m absolutely delighted has made its way onto Switch 2. I love Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. I’ve played through it a few times already on other platforms, and in coming to this Switch 2 port, all I really need to see is smooth performance, some loading time improvements, and a control/UI translation to console that works well. Give me that, and I’m gonna be in some sort of real-time tactical paradise, with my wee real-time tactical trousers on, having the real-time tactical time of my life. Something along those lines.
Blades of the Shogun initially released on PC back in 2016 and it’s fashioned its real-time tactics in the classic Commandos mould, meaning you’ll need to get ready for some good old save-scrubbing (easy with quick save here) as you’re pitted against tough enemies, and environments designed as wonderfully intricate little puzzle boxes for you to solve – either shambolically (hello!) or with style to spare.
Where Commandos rocks a WW2 setting, Shadow Tactics gives us a whole load of sneaking about and killing stuff in feudal Japan. Mate! That’s, like, the exact period of time that allows us access to loads of cool swords, ninja stuff, and all that caper. What a deliciously violent turn of events.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
What’s more, whilst the likes of Commandos can be hard as nails, and a little off-putting perhaps, especially to newcomers, this gem manages to be at once tough and approachable, thanks to how clearly laid out its dynamics, controls, and mission-specific goals are.
As much as I’m in love with Shadow Tactics, the story, as serviceable as it is as an action-oriented backdrop, isn’t gonna stay with you very long after the fact. It ties the gameplay to the time period decently enough and, as far as I’m concerned, that’ll do for this sort of experience. This is, first and foremost, a game where the lasting magic is in the work of strategising and perfecting runs, and you’ll want to replay multiple times for this reason; sometimes fully, sometimes just in little chunks. After the first playthrough, the narrative almost gets in the way of all the magical killing things, choking fools out, creating death traps out of your surroundings, and what have you, so this way I don’t have to feel bad for skipping all the cutscenes the second, third, and tenth time around.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
To counter this aspect, though, and part of what elevates Shadow Tactics above so many other games of its kind, is that care has been taken to ensure each of the characters in your party is a joy to be around. While the story is fairly standard stuff, the characters themselves feel alive in ways they rarely do in this type of game. Switching between the likes of the wooden-legged Mugen, the Splinter of the piece, and the rest of the gang — each of whom brings both attitudes and a smorgasbord of tricks, traps, and combat options to the table — is a constant joy. It almost feels by design that the best characterisation happens in moments of gameplay, where it isn’t impeding your actual playing and tooling around.
Taking control of your five-strong band of warriors across an artistically resplendent representation of Edo-period Japan where you’ve been hired to go unveil the true identity of the big bad guy, Shadow Tactics shuttles you through some cracking locations, all dripping in the sorts of exquisite little details that kick a game’s atmosphere into high gear.
Here you’ll employ the skills of your ninja, thief, spy, sniper, and samurai in unison to take down enemies and complete objectives across 13 missions. And with each of these missions playing out like surprisingly dynamic problems to solve — with as many ways to do things as you could hope for once you get through the expansive tutorial missions — it’s a campaign that gives you a good 30 hours or thereabouts of the toppest of top-notch tactical treats to tuck into (there’s also the Aiko’s Choice expansion to pick up standalone or as part of the Deluxe Edition, for when you inevitably become addicted).
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
The moment-to-moment action — hiding in bushes, observing enemy lines and cones of sight, watching and learning for the rhythms and flows of how guards patrol, or how different unit types attack and/or guard their surroundings — is all the good gravy you’ll have turned up expecting to drink gallons of.
But, this gravy is extra-specially delicious. Oh yes. Because the ‘shadow’ in the title, you see, alludes to the game’s signature shadow dynamic, whereby you can queue up your team’s moves, putting each one into place, moving them around without fear of the enemy seeing and choosing whether they’ll hide, attack, throw a smoke bomb, take a sniped shot to silence an overlooker and so on. Then you set the whole thing in motion and let it all play out automatically, like some incredibly violent Rube Goldberg machine. It’s very good. It feels clever. It makes you feel clever. Everyone feels clever now!
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Once you get the hang of using your shadow ability, and once you’re au fait with the skills and abilities available to your party (all of which are unlocked from the get-go as this is about mastering things, not just unlocking ’em for no reason), you’ll find that you can go to town putting together complex and completely undetected takedowns that you’ll want to show off to people. Genuinely. I’ve forced my wife and children to watch me ganking guys in straw hats in this game a hundred times over. Believe it. It’s a beautiful thing.
On to this Switch 2 port specifically now, and what we’ve got ourselves is a version of the game that runs great in both docked (4k/30fps) and handheld (1080p/30fps) modes. No huge surprise given its age, perhaps, but it still elicits a heavy sigh of relief when a game I adore runs well on a Switch console, as this one does. It also looks and feels better in action than I remember it on either my PC or PS4 back in the day, as I’m sure it stuttered along quite a lot then. So we’re eating good on this front.
We also get a mouse mode thrown in, and while I have been 100% fine with the console controls overall, it’s nice to have the option, complete with lots of ways to tailor it to your preferred setup. I did just default back to the controller in the end, though, as it’s just more comfortable overall for how I like to play splayed out on the couch.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
The camera can be a little niggly at times; it’s a little quick to zoom around, by default at least with the Joy-Con, but it’s something you get used to, and button shortcuts make light work of turning cameras and zooming where required.
Overall, it’s really quite hard to pick holes in this one beyond that slightly loose camera and my own indifference to the narrative. I guess you could say the tutorial area goes on a bit too long, if you were being really picky. But, everything else here is top-tier, and I can’t help but want to scream at everyone to go pick this one up in the hopes that this amazing team gets the chance to bring the rest of its incredible back catalogue to Switch 2. These games absolutely sing in handheld, and I’ll gladly replay the lot given the chance.
Conclusion
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a fantastic real-time tactics adventure that wows with top-notch gameplay, fantastic looks, and a set of delectable missions that challenge you to get into your ninja groove and bring the best out of a team of shadowy assassins. The signature shadow mechanic is a delight to use, and the cherry on top of an impressively flexible core combat system, whilst large missions give you endless opportunity to get creative.
Oh, and it all looks and plays wonderfully well on Switch 2. With mouse mode, improved loading times, and solid performance to boot, there’s precious little to criticise with this all-timer. Now, give us Desperados 3 and Shadow Gambit!
The Saudi investment firm Misk Foundation, using its Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC) branch, has acquired a significant number of shares in Capcom, according to GameBiz (thanks, Automaton).
The firm, owned by Saudi Arabian Crown Price Mohammed Bin Salman, now owns a 5.03% stake in Capcom after acquiring 26,788,500 shares. It has stressed, however, that its reasoning is for “pure investment”, which likely means it will simply earn profits from share increases.
The move comes as Capcom celebrates the remarkable success of Resident Evil Requiem, which just recently surpassed 6 million units sold; the fastest any title in the series has achieved such a milestone. Capcom’s share price is currently on the rise, sitting at 3,562 JPY at the time of writing.
Capcom also has a heavy-hitter in the form of Street Fighter 6, which will shortly welcome veteran fighter Alex into its roster via the Year 3 Fighters Pass. The Misk Foundation, meanwhile, wholly owns game developer SNK, which is perhaps best known for fighting franchises such as Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters, along with the 2D action series Metal Slug.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the Misk Foundation will settle at owning 5% of Capcom? Let us know with a comment.
Uniqlo is no stranger to a Pokémon collab or two, so it will come as no surprise to hear that it has a collection inspired by the classics up its sleeve for the series’ 30th anniversary.
The company’s latest Pokémon range launches in “late March”, and it all circulates around the iconic ‘mon art from Gen 1. For adults, there are graphic tees featuring Charizard, Pikachu, Snorlax, Gengar and the starters, while the kids’ options also feature some Eevee and Mewtwo representation.
The adult-size graphic tees will set you back £19.90 / $29.90, while the kids’ options come in at £9.90 / $19.90.
You’ll find the full collection on the Uniqlo website, but we’ve also attached a handful of our favourites below:
We’ll be keeping an eye out for a firm release date as we head into the second half of the month. After that, there’s Uniqlo’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie collection to look forward to, which launches in early April.
Will you be picking up any of the tees in this collection? Let us know your favourite in the comments.
Having worked on several games in the series, she’s almost become the de facto voice for Princess Zelda, but we all know how Nintendo works. At some point, it will likely deviate from the timeline established by Breath of the Wild and go in a completely different direction for future titles.
When asked about this in a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, Summersett rejected the idea of passing the torch to a new voice actor, but not because she wants to keep the role for herself. Instead, she offered a viewpoint in which all versions of Zelda can exist together, welcomed by the community, and continue to flourish in the coming years.
Here’s the full quote:
“I don’t desire – or need – to pass a torch. There are already many torches, many versions of Zelda, each shaped by hundreds of artists before me. We can all exist at the same time, welcomed into a global community.
“On that note, people are still just picking up Breath of the Wild for the first time! Regardless of future projects, I must dutifully warn them of the Blood Moon’s rise. It’s serious. The Worm Blood Moon just occurred at 4am last week and I was up all night.”
It’s a lovely way of looking at it, in our opinion. In an earlier question, she also touched on how grateful she is to have been given the opportunity to reprise the role for multiple games, stating “These things are never ever a given”.
Zelda is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, but so far, Nintendo has been pretty quiet about the whole thing. Producer Eiji Aonuma stated that Age of Imprisonment may inspire the next game in the series, and we recently explored what this might mean. It seems unlikely we’ll see a new entry anytime soon, but perhaps we’ll get a remake or remaster at some point in 2026..? We’ll see.
What are your thoughts on Summersett’s comments here? Are you pleased with her performance as Zelda? Let us know.
Many of us would have assumed that Pokémon Pokopia would be sticking around in the upper reaches of the UK charts for weeks to come, but stock issues kept it from the top spot in its first week, and it looks like the struggles have continued as we enter week two.
Despite being a critical smash hit with strong sales on the digital front, Pokopia’s physicals were reportedly “undersupplied” at launch, perhaps explaining why the game now finds itself at fourth after two weeks on the market. It’s surpassed by Resident Evil Requiem, which remains at the top spot, Mario Kart World, and WWE 2K26, which debuts in third.
