Nintendo Unveils Comprehensive System Update for Switch 2 and Original Switch

Nintendo has recently released a substantial firmware update, Version 21.0.0, for its Switch 2 and original Switch consoles. This update introduces a multitude of improvements designed to enhance user interaction and system functionality. Key changes span from user interface refinements on the HOME Menu to more robust download management, alongside expanded capabilities for connecting with other players. The update also brings significant advancements to GameChat, display settings, and broadens language support to include Thai and Polish, all while ensuring a more stable and reliable system performance for users worldwide.

The comprehensive update, released on November 10, 2025, integrates several noteworthy modifications. On the HOME Menu, new indicators now clearly distinguish between physical and digital software titles, simplifying game library navigation. For users managing multiple downloads, a convenient option to cancel all ongoing processes has been added. Furthermore, console bundles that include digital software downloads will now feature a dedicated 'Receive Software' icon, streamlining the installation process by directly linking to the Nintendo eShop, assuming an active internet connection. This provides a more intuitive method for accessing new content.

Beyond the core system, the update also refines social interactions and game access. The 'Search for Users You've Played With' function, located under the 'Add Friend' menu, now includes individuals encountered in friends' GameChat rooms, fostering broader social connectivity. A notable feature for virtual game card users is the ability to download game data even when the 'Use Online License' setting is disabled, offering greater flexibility. Access to this function is available via the 'Virtual Game Cards' section on the HOME Menu, providing an alternative to online-dependent downloads.

GameChat functionalities have also seen significant enhancements. The console will no longer enter sleep mode automatically during active chat sessions, ensuring uninterrupted communication. Users can now also toggle 'Chat Audio Panning,' and chat sessions will seamlessly continue when switching between TV mode (docked) and handheld/tabletop modes, even if the internet connection transitions from wired to wireless. Accessibility options have been improved, with the Japanese keyboard's predictive conversion character description now being read aloud when 'Use Text to Speech' is enabled. The maximum 'Text-to-Speech Speed' has also been increased from 300% to 400%.

Audio and display settings received attention as well. The 'Audio' settings now allow users to select between 'Stable' and 'Low Latency' audio modes for wirelessly connected Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controllers, with 'Low Latency' prioritizing reduced audio delay over potential interference. In 'Display' settings, 'HDR Output' has been rephrased to 'System Screen's HDR Output,' and screen adjustment during 'Adjust Screen Size' has been made more user-friendly. 'Notifications' settings see 'Platinum Point Notification' renamed to 'Nintendo Switch Online Notification.' Lastly, the 'System' settings now feature an updated 'Stop Charging Around 90%' option, now described as 'Stop Charging Around 80-90%,' and the console now officially supports Thai and Polish languages, which will be accessible in software that offers these language options.

This comprehensive update follows a previous firmware release at the end of September, which primarily focused on general system stability. The current Version 21.0.0, however, delves much deeper, implementing a wide array of functional and quality-of-life improvements that collectively aim to elevate the experience for all Nintendo Switch 2 and original Switch owners, demonstrating Nintendo's ongoing commitment to refining its console ecosystem.