Nintendo Switch 2 receives handheld performance boost for original Switch titles

Nintendo has released a new "Handheld Mode Boost" mode for the Switch 2, which allows games for the original Switch to run more smoothly on the system when out of its dock.

The details:

• The new mode, released as part of the latest system software update, now means that original Switch games will run on the Switch 2’s handheld mode as though they’re being played on a docked Switch 1, rather than in the weaker handheld mode.
• Nintendo has not explained how this has been achieved exactly, but the company’s updated support page suggests that with the mode activated, the console forces the game to assume it's being played using a docked Switch. This may cause issues in titles such as Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu / Eevee, where players must detach the Joy-Cons from the console to use motion controls. “Because this option forces TV mode operation, some instructions may be incorrect or fail to operate correctly,” the page reads. “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.”
• Players can also choose to disable the mode by accessing their Switch 2’s system settings and toggling the option under “Nintendo Switch Software Handling.” This will make games run at a lower frame rate and resolution due to being put back into handheld mode but can reduce power consumption.