the cutting room mirror

Revisional Differences

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This is a sub-page of Nintendo Switch 2.

As usual, the Nintendo Switch 2 receives system software updates, which add some features and fix issues. And for all the joking of Nintendo and their system stability improvements, this time around, those actually hide various fixes for the system's backwards compatibility with Nintendo Switch games. Unusually, the version numbers continue from the Nintendo Switch (instead of starting from version 1) and oftentimes match between the two.

v19.0.0#

Initial firmware on launch systems.

v19.0.1#

Arrived solely on some game cards at launch. Not listed on the Nintendo support website. Added the ability to play Switch 1 and 2 game cards.

v20.1.0#

Released on June 4, 2025 and was the first online update for Switch 2. Listed on the Nintendo support website, but with no changelog. Added the ability to play Switch 1 and 2 game cards if you did not obtain a game card that had v19.0.1.

v20.1.1#

Released on June 5, 20251. Added the following features:

  • Added Nintendo Switch Online features.
  • Enabled GameChat and GameShare.
  • Enabled Nintendo Switch System Transfer feature.
  • Enabled the eShop and News features.
  • Added support for Virtual game cards.
  • Enabled Media upload to server.
  • Added Link to phone apps.
  • Enabled MicroSD Express and game-key card usage.

v20.1.5#

Released on June 18, 2025. Usual system stability improvements.

v20.2.0#

Released on July 15, 2025. As officially noted are the following fixes:

  • Fixes Parental Control settings not transferring properly from a Switch.
  • Fixed an issue where you couldn't proceed past “Searching for networks” in Internet Settings.

Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

  • Chronicles of the Wolf
  • Crypt of the NecroDancer: Nintendo Switch Edition
  • D.C.4 Da Capo 4 Fortunate Departures
  • Dragon’s Lair Trilogy
  • Endless Ocean Luminous
  • Genso Rogoku no Kaleidoscope
  • Gunbird 2
  • Harvestella
  • KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World – Labyrinth of Hope and the Gathering of Adventurers Plus
  • Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku Wo Noroi no Ibutsu to Madoishi Bokensha-tachi
  • Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society
  • Manticore: Galaxy on Fire
  • Nekopara Vol.1
  • Nekopara Vol.2
  • Northgard
  • Portal 2
  • Redemption Reapers
  • Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
  • Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited
  • SEGA Ages G-Loc Air Battle
  • SEGA Ages Virtua Racing
  • Sky: Children of the Light
  • ToHeart
  • Umineko When They Cry Saku: Nekobako to Musou no Koukyoukyoku
  • Warp Shift

v20.3.0#

Released on July 28, 2025. As officially noted, there are some improvements to system stability. Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

  • Cotton Reboot High Tension
  • D.C.III: Da Capo III – Plus Story
  • DarkStar One: Nintendo Switch Edition
  • Disgaea 7: Hour of Darkness
  • Vagante

v20.4.0#

Released on September 1, 2025. As officially noted, there are some improvements to system stability. Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

v20.5.0#

Released on September 29, 2025. As officially noted, there are some improvements to system stability. Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

  • Deemo Reborn
  • Library of Ruina
  • Powerful Pro Baseball 2024-2025
  • Ultra Age
  • Warframe

v21.0.0#

Released on November 10, 2025. As officially noted are the following changes:

  • Added detailed icons next to software to denote game card type (physical for Switch 1 or 2 or virtual game card).
  • Added an option to cancel multiple downloads at once.
  • Added an option to directly receive downloaded software for console bundles.
  • The "Search For Users You've Played With" option now lists users from GameChat.
  • Added an option to download a virtual game card even if the "Use Online License" setting is disabled.
  • Made the following changes to GameChat:
    • Disabled automatic sleep during chat.
    • Added an option to disable chat audio panning.
    • GameChat will now continue if the system is removed from a Ethernet-connected dock.
  • Made changes to Text-To-Speech:
    • Increased speed limit to 400%.
    • When using the Japanese keyboard, the description of the predictive conversion character is now read out loud.
  • Added "Stable" or "Low Latency" audio modes for a wirelessly connected Pro Controller 2.
  • Made changes to display settings:
    • "HDR Output" was renamed to "System Screen HDR Output".
    • Revised the Adjust Screen Size display.
  • "Platinum Point Notification” was renamed to "Nintendo Switch Online Notification."
  • The "Stop Charging Around 90%" option was changed to "Stop Charging Around 80-90%".
  • Added Thai and Polish language options.
  • System stability improvements.

Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

  • Abyss Memory Fallen Angel and the Path of Magic
  • A Clockwork Ley-Line: Kagerou ni Samayou Majo
  • Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue (Japanese version)
  • Arcade Party
  • Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute
  • Batman: Arkham Knight
  • Genso Manege
  • Godlike Burger
  • Hitman 3 - Cloud Version
  • KarmaZoo
  • Model Debut #Nicola
  • S.N.I.P.E.R.: Hunter Scope
  • They Bleed Pixels
  • Tokyo Xanadu eX+
  • Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded
  • Windjammers
  • Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

v21.0.1#

Released on November 24, 2025. As officially noted, the following issues were fixed:

  • Fixed an issue where an error code would appear when attempting to transfer from Switch 1 to Switch 2 using local communication.
  • Fixed an occasional issue where Bluetooth connection issues would occur after waking the system up from sleep mode or disabling airplane mode.
  • Other stability fixes.

Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

v21.1.0#

Released on December 8, 2025. As officially noted, there are some improvements to system stability. Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

v21.2.0#

Released on January 12, 2026. As officially noted, there are some improvements to system stability. Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

v22.0.0#

To do:
List the text changes to the Virtual Game Card messages.

Released on March 16, 2026. As officially noted are the following changes:

  • Added an option, Handheld Mode Boost, which allows Nintendo Switch games to run in TV Mode specs while in Handheld Mode, enhancing visuals at the expense of battery life.
    • The effect may depend on the software being played, or there may be no effect at all. Certain issues may occur depending on the software.
    • The touch screen may be disabled.
    • Attached Joy-Con 2 controllers will be treated as a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Detaching the Joy-Con 2s will allow the use of other controllers.
  • Revised the animation and text for adding a Virtual Game Card.
  • Added a function to save notes on a friend in the Friend List. The notes can also be viewed and edited on the Nintendo Switch app and are not visible to friends.
  • Made the following changes for GameChat:
    • Added the ability to invite friends to a GameChat room that a player is in.
    • Added the ability to invite friends even if they haven't finished the initial setup for GameChat. (Only applies to Nintendo Switch 2 users.)
    • Improved game screen quality when expanded.
  • Added a quick 10-second rewind/fast-forward to the ZL and ZR buttons when watching a full-screen video in News or the eShop.
  • Added the ability to add Clip Videos, Videos saved as screenshots, and screenshots with added text to the Automatic Uploads from Album.
  • Made the following changes for the Speech-to-Text function:
    • Added Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian to the GameChat Voice to Speech-to-Text languages in Accessibility.
    • The Text-to-Speech function will now read the text in Album during the first-time setup.
  • The Data Management screen now breaks down the storage capacity by data type (Software Data, Save Data, Album Data, and Other).
  • Added an audio test for Linear PCM 5.1 Surround when selected in TV Sound in Audio options.
  • Enabling Airplane Mode now allows you to individually apply it to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC. These individual settings are saved and can also be changed in the Quick Settings menu.
  • Successfully inputting a PIN for the Parental Controls will now send a notification to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smartphone app.
  • Other improvements to system stability.

Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

v22.1.0#

Released on April 6, 2026. Usual system stability improvements.

v23.0.0#

Released on September 10, 2026.

  • Made the following changes to GameChat:
    • The list of chats you can join now list previously joined chats.
    • You can start a chat without inviting any friends.
    • An option was added to the GameChat menu to change the screen size.
  • Made the following changes to Virtual Game Cards:
    • A settings menu was added to the Virtual Game Card menu to check which systems are linked, which virtual game cards are hidden and has an option to enable online licenses, which allows any software to be redownloaded without having to load a virtual game card.
    • A prompt was also added to start any software that is on another system using the online license, if the system that has the virutal game card is otherwise inaccessible.
  • Made the following changes to Miis:
    • Added an option to share Miis using a QR code.
    • The Mii Maker has been updated to include an option to play the Mii creation music from the Wii, 3DS, or Wii U Mii Makers, with the Wii Mii Maker music playing by default.

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NS2 Mii Maker pre-23.0.0.png NS2 Mii Maker 23.0.0.png
  • Made the following changes to Handheld Mode Boost:
    • Added option to add a toggle for Handheld Mode Boost in the Quick Settings menu.
    • Other controllers can now be used with the system when playing Nintendo Switch software in Handheld Mode Boost while Joy-Con 2 controllers are attached to the system.
  • Made the following changes to TV Mode settings:
    • Enabled variable refresh rate (VRR) on TV mode. An option to enable/disable VRR was also added to the system's Display settings. An update to the dock is required.
    • Up to eight individual TV sound settings can now be saved.
    • "Dock Output Information" was renamed to "Video Output Information" in the system's Display settings.
  • Portuguese (Brazil) was added as a language option for text-to-speech and GameChat speech-to-text.
  • Enabled system transfers between Nintendo Switch 2 systems.
  • When adjusting the Wake-Up Sound in TV Mode volume setting, an option to test the volume level was added.
  • Play activity that is displayed on a user's profile now combines play time for the same software across multiple systems.

Unofficially noted are backwards compatibility fixes for the following Switch games:

  • Aidan In Danger
  • Asatsugutori
  • Attack on Titan 2
  • Bar Stella Abyss
  • Boot Hill Heroes
  • D.C.4 Da Capo 4
  • Fig
  • Go Vacation
  • Hayarigami: Keishicho Kaii Jiken File
  • Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3 V Generation
  • Kiyo: Bunny Tyranny
  • Laboratory Rat Escape Simulator Pro
  • Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook
  • Ninja Five-O
  • Overdriven Reloaded: Special Edition
  • Shin Hayarigami 3
  • Suuran Digit
  • Terraformers
  • The Wild Case
  • Tiny Lands
  • What the Dub
  • ZikSquare

v23.0.1#

Released on September 30, 2026.

  • Fixed an issue from system version 23.0.0 where software occasionally took a long time to start, pause, or close.

References#

  1. https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68526/~/system-update-history-for-nintendo-switch%26nbsp%3B2↩︎