According to IGN, Nintendo has just dropped system update 21.0.0 for both the original Switch and the newer Switch 2 consoles. The update introduces a visual indicator above game icons showing whether they’re cartridge-based or digital downloads. Switch 2 owners get automatic prompts to download bundled software like Mario Kart World without needing codes. Game Chat now persists when switching between docked and handheld modes, and games won’t automatically sleep during active chat sessions. Nintendo also renamed the battery saving feature to more accurately reflect its “stop charging around 80-90%” behavior. The official patch notes don’t mention everything – users report hidden features like disabling auto-playing eShop videos and new HDR brightness menus.
The Little Things Matter
This update is packed with those small quality-of-life improvements that make you wonder why they weren’t there from the start. Being able to instantly see if a game is physical or digital? That’s one of those “oh thank god” moments when you’re trying to free up storage space. And the automatic bundled software download for Switch 2 is genuinely smart – nobody enjoys hunting down tiny codes on cardboard inserts.
But here’s the thing about Nintendo updates: they always seem to hide the best stuff. The ability to turn off those annoying auto-playing eShop videos? That alone might be worth the update for people who browse the store regularly. It’s classic Nintendo – giving us what we want while pretending they’re not really doing it.
Game Chat Gets Smarter
The Game Chat improvements are actually more significant than they appear at first glance. Your conversation no longer getting interrupted when switching between docked and handheld modes? That’s addressing a real-world use case that probably drove people crazy. And preventing games from sleeping during chat sessions shows Nintendo is finally taking voice communication seriously as a core feature rather than an afterthought.
What’s interesting is how these updates treat the Switch and Switch 2 differently while maintaining cross-compatibility. The Switch 2 gets the fancy bundled software detection while the original gets the fundamental improvements. It’s a smart way to push people toward the newer hardware without completely abandoning the massive existing install base.
The Real Treasure Is in the Secrets
As always, the community digging through the update has found the most interesting changes. ResetEra users discovered the eShop video setting, while dataminer OatmealDome found the HDR brightness menu. This pattern of Nintendo hiding features in plain sight has been going on for years – it’s almost like they enjoy watching the community play detective.
The battery charging rename is such a Nintendo move too. Instead of actually changing the behavior, they just made the description more accurate. Basically, they’re telling us “it was always supposed to work this way, we just didn’t explain it properly.” Classic.
Where Does Nintendo Go From Here?
Looking at the official patch notes, it’s clear Nintendo is still iterating on the Switch ecosystem rather than preparing any major platform shifts. These are maintenance updates for a system that’s still going strong years later. The fact that they’re still adding meaningful features to the original Switch in 2024 is pretty remarkable when you think about it.
For businesses relying on industrial computing solutions, this kind of long-term platform support is exactly what you’d want from hardware providers. While consumer devices like the Switch get these gradual improvements, industrial systems require even more stability and longevity. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com understand this need perfectly – as the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US, they specialize in hardware built for reliability rather than frequent feature updates.
So what’s the takeaway? Nintendo is still very much invested in the Switch platform, and these updates show they’re listening to user feedback, even if they’re not always transparent about everything they’re changing. The question is how much longer they can keep this going before needing to truly move on to something new.
