[UPDATE - March 20, 2026] According to initial user testing, the new Handheld Mode Boost can reduce Nintendo Switch 2 battery life by around 25%.
[ORIGINAL STORY] "Handheld Mode Boost" is a new Nintendo Switch 2 feature introduced in today's v22.0.0 system update, which brings massive improvements for several original Nintendo Switch games in handheld mode. Games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Bayonetta 3, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 now look better than ever on the new system, thanks to the ability of running these games with their docked mode in the Switch 2 handheld mode.
While the new Nintendo Switch 2 system update introduces other changes to the system and its features, such as GameChat improvements, the Handheld Mode Boost is the most exciting. Enabled by accessing the Nintendo Switch Software Handling menu in the System Settings and System menus, this mode "causes the performance of Nintendo Switch software while undocked to run as if it were being played in TV mode. While this can result in improved visuals, it may also increase the system's power consumption," reads the official description. The effect will vary depending on the software, so some games may not see any improvement, while others will benefit significantly more.
While thorough testing has yet to be conducted, the Handheld Mode Boost seems to be doing wonders for certain original Switch games on Nintendo Switch 2. "So many early winners of this update," said ResetERA forums member Igor who conducted some early testing on several games. Among these are Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, Monster Hunter Rise, Bayonetta 3 and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
- MK8 Deluxe - It looks super sharp despite AA it's one of the easiest wins from the update
- Xenoblade Chronicles DE - This is so, SO much nicer already - though definitely want all Xeno games to get a native update.
- Monster Hunter Rise - Woah, HUGE winner here, the game looks amazing now and very happy I kept it downloaded. Going to get back into it again.
- Bayonetta 3 - I don't know if there's variable res in this game or I just didn't try a more taxing area or maybe Switch 2 overhead keeps it from hitting. But the portable mode concessions - super low res, very heavy dithering - are gone. It's really night and day. The game always dropped frames (and seems to still, a little bit), but this went from unplayable to a pretty good experience. Curious about playing the opening level as I think it was the most demanding. But being able to tell the monster just from the start screen felt huge. Probably the single biggest beneficiary of the update for me so far.
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - GOODBYE SHARPENING! It looks so much better now but this is still a sw2 update candidate if there ever was one.
X user Aaron also provided a quick comparison for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 which highlights the significant image quality improvement the new feature brings on Switch 2.
Full backward compatibility with Nintendo Switch games is one of the key features of the Nintendo Switch 2, so it's really nice to see it improved like this with the new mode. Some of the games above, like the Xenoblade Chronicles games, would benefit from a proper Switch 2 update considerably, but nonetheless, this is a step in the right direction to make the system the one to get to enjoy Nintendo's vast library of previous-generation games at their best.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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