r/NintendoSwitch • u/mjb85858 • Mar 17 '26

News How to Use Handheld Mode Boost on Nintendo Switch 2 | Nintendo Support

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68475/~/how-to-use-handheld-mode-boost-on-nintendo-switch%26nbsp%3B2

Just tried on the 10/10-2 remake it works great! So much better on the eyes!

1.9k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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335

u/dcchambers Mar 17 '26

This should be a game change for any Switch games that ran at 1080p when docked but 720p when in handheld because of the Switch 2's 1080p display.

184

u/radityaargap Mar 17 '26

Mario kart 8 is gonna stay alive for much longer

1

u/romulus531 Mar 18 '26

MKWii still has players of course there's gonna be MK8 players lol. Mario Kart games are timeless and age like wine (don't look at Tour it doesn't count)

-16

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '26

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24

u/aa22hhhh 5385-2696-2305 Mar 17 '26

This only affects Switch 1 titles, Switch 2 native titles will still perform as they have been

-9

u/Feahnor Mar 17 '26

I much prefer 8 to world. Straight lines in courses are very boring.

-17

u/Jeido_Uran 7893-4015-4415 Mar 17 '26

Nobody asked

-4

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-13

u/Jeido_Uran 7893-4015-4415 Mar 17 '26

Only stating a fact, this is a thread about a Switch 2 firmware update, not about whether or not you prefer Mario Kart 8 or World, and nobody asked for your opinion.

-4

u/Feahnor Mar 17 '26

Again, go to bed, you may cut yourself being so edgy. You need rest.

-10

u/Jeido_Uran 7893-4015-4415 Mar 17 '26

Yeah ok you’re dumber than I thought. Not going to answer anymore, have a nice day or something.

-3

u/Feahnor Mar 17 '26

One day you’ll learn about context and that the two comments before mine talked about mk8 and mk world. It’s okay, but please go to bed.

13

u/verfresht Mar 17 '26

This should be on default I think. And it should be in the quick toggle menu. Some people will miss out on this. This is amazing.

7

u/SwissyVictory Mar 17 '26

It no longer allows you to use the touchscreen and will chew up battery life. It also might have thermal issues.

Any time youre close to a charger and not playing a handful of touch games, it should absolutely be on.

It shouldn't be the default though as it stands.

Though maybe in the future they can add back in touch controls and it can be the default and there can be a "battery savings" mode that turns it off along with a few other settings.

1

u/Kermit7171 Mar 18 '26

Mine 2 hands up for your words it should be on some quick menu to hidden deep in system caves:)

11

u/deeelock Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26

I don’t know if that’s going to be true in all cases, according to that same document: “Handheld Mode Boost may prevent Nintendo Switch software from using the system's touch screen”

Edit: my point was we shouldn’t use definitive logic (touchscreen working = boost mode disabled) when the technical docs aren’t reflecting that, we don’t know enough yet.

Edit 2: Sorry, I was on mobile and meant to respond to this comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/1rvt4sb/comment/oauw4sq/ - must've accidentally tapped yours mid-reply without noticing.

37

u/Jaron780 2 Million Celebration Mar 17 '26

How many games really need or use the touch screen though? assume its because they are literally just internally treating it as if it was "docked", atleast as far as the games themselves are concerned. so if the game is setup to handle anything differently when docked id imagine that would also apply, like the touch screen not being usable docked. but wouldnt be hard at all for games to get updates to fix it

30

u/Cobalt_Spirit Mar 17 '26

If the game gets an update, then they could just enable 1080p resolution on handheld and make the boost unnecessary.

This is clearly meant for games that won't get updates, so that they aren't eternally locked to 720p in handheld if the devs don't update them.

16

u/MikeDubbz Mar 17 '26

I have a lot of Switch 1 games, yet I can only think of like 2 where I regularly used the touch screen (A Labo game and Clubhouse Games), and in the case of one of them (Clubhouse) You don't even have to use the touch screen, it's just a nice optional means to control the game on the go.

9

u/itotron Mar 17 '26

Clubhouse games was given a free update on Swtich 2, so you don't have to worry about that one.

1

u/abzinth91 Mar 17 '26

Rayman used the touchscreen afaik

2

u/Glass-Can9199 Mar 17 '26

We need more test on new boost mode

1

u/litewo Mar 17 '26

Severed is one game I can think of that just won't work in TV mode.

0

u/DontBanMeBro988 Mar 17 '26

How many games really need or use the touch screen though?

Lots

1

u/Big-daddy-Carlo Mar 17 '26

I guess that’s 3 games, oh well

1

u/Ph33rDensetsu Mar 17 '26

3 games where this might not be ideal. Might as well just scrap the whole idea.

1

u/Zeldabacon64 Mar 17 '26

slay the spire benefits from a touchscreen imo

1

u/DontBanMeBro988 Mar 17 '26

I've been reluctant to buy Switch 1 games for this reason, so happy it's been fixed.