• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Switch 2 - Handheld Boost Mode for Switch 1 games!

RGT 85 just mentioned Lego City Undercover...YES! What a great suggestion. Faster loading times AND boosted handheld resolution. What a fantastic idea. Redownloading nao!
 
Last edited:
Matchew said:
All the screen and videos I have seen it is very hard to tell the difference. Does it actually make a huge difference in real life?
Click to expand...
I saw it on Vampyr and Tony Hawk 1+2, two games which are known for their terrible look on handheld mode. I should try Arkham Knight as well
 
Matchew said:
All the screen and videos I have seen it is very hard to tell the difference. Does it actually make a huge difference in real life?
Click to expand...

I mean, let's take Mario Kart 8 as an example. would you notice the difference between 720p and 1080p? if yes, then yes it does make a difference.

some games were very compromised even in docked mode, like Xenoblade 2, but the boost helps make those look at least acceptable on the smaller screen now.

then there are some very weird outliers like Bayonetta 1 (and I think 2 as well) that ran at the same resolution (720p in this case) in both modes, so you won't see any difference there.
there are even some games that ran at 1080p in handheld mode on switch 1 already for some reason, and for those games you already got that benefit before this patch (if other settings stayed the same of course, which might not have been the case)
 
Last edited:
Matchew said:
All the screen and videos I have seen it is very hard to tell the difference. Does it actually make a huge difference in real life?
Click to expand...
Well I have tried 3 games so far. Smash Bros. Ultimate, DBZ: Kakarot, and Metroid Prime Remastered. All showed improvements. Smash and Metroid are much cleaner and sharper. They look great.

DBZ Kakarot is like a whole new game almost. It was so pixelated before, and there was definitely slowdown in OG Switch. Now it looks great, and runs smooth.
 
kevboard said:
I mean, let's take Mario Kart 8 as an example. would you notice the difference between 720p and 1080p? if yes, then yes it does make a difference.

some games were very compromised even in docked mode, like Xenoblade 2, but the boost helps make those look at least acceptable on the smaller screen now.

then there are some very weird outliers like Bayonetta 1 (and I think 2 as well) that ran at the same resolution (720p in this case) in both modes, so you won't see any difference there.
there are even some games that ran at 1080p in handheld mode on switch 1 already for some reason, and for those games you already got that benefit before this patch (if other settings stayed the same of course, which might not have been the case)
Click to expand...
Yeah I remember The Last Remnant Remastered ran at 1080p in handheld mode so Switch 2 users already have been enjoying that at a higher resolution.
 
Deerock71 said:
RGT 85 just mentioned Lego City Undercover...YES! What a great suggestion. Faster loading times AND boosted handheld resolution. What a fantastic idea. Redownloading nao!
Click to expand...
Yea, basically every LEGO game is going to look that much better in Handheld mode.

It makes me wonder if WB found out about "Boost mode" and stopped development on those supposed Switch 2 editions of several LEGO games.
 
This update is really cool! Xenoblade 2 definitely looks better. A Switch 2 patch would still be preferred but I'm sure some games look so much better in handheld now. I don't really play in handheld much but if I can play Super Mario RPG 1080P handheld then I might have to finally open my copy of the game.

xI47gNo0BCkoz5G0.jpg


The real reason to update right here. 😂 This IS new right? Nintendo color coded this section. I remember it only being one solid color.
 
Last edited:
I'm chipping in with 2 games that now look spectacular in handheld, and one game that looked like barf but now looks absolutely better.

SPECTACULAR:
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code
Alien: Isolation

FROM CRAP TO FIIINE:
1000x Resist

I'm not kidding, I un-installed 1000x Resist when I first saw it on the Switch 2. It now looks like it would on a 1080p screen. It's not a great looking game to start with, but DAMN it's got a good sci-fi story.
 
Holy crap, Batman Arkham Knight actually looks GOOD in handheld mode now...and runs at a (mostly) stable 30fps. Seriously impressed at how this enhances older Switch 1 games in handheld mode
 
Last edited:
GoldenEye98 said:
I think it will end up being OLED + more effcient chip + 512GB storage.

All that would make $600 worth it I suppose.
Click to expand...

I doubt Nintendo will release a $600 system, until/unless they can get the cost of the current one down, and launch OLED under 500. Then again, we don't know this Nintendo very well, do we?

I would personally hope they don't add more storage you have to pay for, because when that storage dies so does the console, so I use it sparingly and just let it be a system/OS drive.
 
BlackTron said:
I doubt Nintendo will release a $600 system, until/unless they can get the cost of the current one down, and launch OLED under 500. Then again, we don't know this Nintendo very well, do we?

I would personally hope they don't add more storage you have to pay for, because when that storage dies so does the console, so I use it sparingly and just let it be a system/OS drive.
Click to expand...

Wasn't the Steam Deck OLED 512GB $150 more than the LCD 256GB ? It also had a slightly more efficient chip as well I believe. So it's sort of a close comparison...

I think when you factor in that they are already signaling that Switch 2 could go up in price, what a more efficient chip may cost on top of the at, an OLED display, additional 256GB of storage....I could see $600 being possible.

Maybe I am wrong but I at a minimum I don't see less than $550.
 
I played Xenoblade 2 purely in handheld mode on Switch 1. It was very blurry. I didn't know it looked less blurry on TV. Might try it on Switch 2 to see how it looks. Looking back, Xenoblade 2 was a pretty great game. It was probably my favorite 1st party Switch era game.
 
Hopefully font scaling isn't an issue with a larger screen, that's my biggest worry regarding docked mode in such a small screen. I tried the mode in Immortals Fenyx Rising and yes, screen is a bit crisper.
 
Last edited:
ReyBrujo said:
Hopefully font scaling isn't an issue with a larger screen, that's my biggest worry regarding docked mode in such a small screen. I tried the mode in Immortals Fenyx Rising and yes, screen is a bit crisper.
Click to expand...
I like games that seem to need a lot of reading, and I haven't had any issues yet.🤞
 
rodrigolfp said:
I know, but it is a little inconvenient. I was using the touch screen on poketch apps, for example.
Click to expand...
I get that. Maybe jump back and forth with boost mode. It can be toggled while in game.

It would be cool if in the next update that they add the toggle switch to the menu when you hold downs the "home" button.
 
rodrigolfp said:
How? Holding the home button?
Click to expand...
As far as I know, you have to go into the settings every time. Having it by holding down the home button would be nice, though! I haven't tried that.

EDIT- Just thought I'd mention you can easily turn it off while playing the game if you use the touch screen for some games.
 
Last edited:
S0ULZB0URNE said:
The gift that keeps on giving.

VRR on the Dock next PLS Nintendo!
Click to expand...

I still wonder what the holdup is there.

even if its an HDMI certification issue, just offer Gsync... most TVS, even Sony TVs which are usually the ones lacking gaming features, support Gsync through the VESA Adaptive Sync standard. no HDMI certification needed.

and we know that the Dock can do it, because people connected their Steam Decks to it and VRR worked without issue.
 
rodrigolfp said:
How? Holding the home button?
Click to expand...
Maybe in the future theyll dd that

For now you have to suspend a game and then go into settings to toggles it under system

But it works well. I did it during a cutscene for splatoon 2 to test it out. Sharpness difference is very noticeable

I havent tried as many games as these videos but its very apparent in smash bros too. Almost feels like a "switch 2 edition"
 
Hyet said:
If only! but I think Switch 2 USB won't allow it.
Click to expand...
Other than a certification issue there's no technical limitation on the Switch 2 hardware of outputting VRR in dock mode. And knowing Nintendo when it comes to technical stuff and the time that VRR Forum takes to certifique some devices is going to take some time to enable it… i took some time for the PS5 too.
 
LordOcidax said:
Other than a certification issue there's no technical limitation on the Switch 2 hardware of outputting VRR in dock mode. And knowing Nintendo when it comes to technical stuff and the time that VRR Forum takes to certifique some devices is going to take some time to enable it… i took some time for the PS5 too.
Click to expand...
We'll see, then,but I have my doubts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

NitroDeck 2 - for Switch 2 and Switch 1 - Capacitive Sticks
3
275
SomeNorseGuy replied
RE Requiem off screen footage on Switch 2 in handheld mode
6
315
Danjin44 replied
Elden Ring Switch 2 running in handheld mode gameplay video
2 3
113
2K
Dacvak replied
Inuzuma Eleven for Switch 2?
5
254
StereoVsn replied
Digital Foundry: Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2 Review: Impressive Handheld Play But Docked Mode Needs Work
2
59
3K
Baemono replied
Top Bottom