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The latest Nintendo Switch 2 update has included a widespread update to almost every original Switch game, without the need for dedicated upgrades.
Nintendo's approach to updating original Switch games for Switch 2 has been weird so far. There's Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, Switch 2 enhanced games, games that just work better without an update, and then some games that are exactly the same as they were on Switch. This isn't entirely unique for Switch 2, PS5 did this too, but Nintendo has decided to make things a bit better overall for those games without updates, at least on handheld mode.
Nintendo released patch notes for Switch update Ver. 22.0.0 (spotted by Eurogamer) Nintendo added a new feature, "Handheld Mode Boost." This change effectively has Nintendo Switch 1 games run in Switch 2's handheld mode as if they were in TV mode, or docked. So, games that performed better on Switch 1 if they were docked – such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which jumped from 720p to 1080p – will receive the same improvements on Switch 2's handheld mode.
However, there are a few exceptions to this – mostly to do with games that had motion controls when in TV mode, or touch controls in handheld. These include Super Mario Maker 2, Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, Clubhouse Games, Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun!, Pikmin 1+2. Games that don't work in handheld mode, like WarioWare: Move It!, won't receive a boost from Ver. 22.0.0, either.
Basically, what I'm hearing is, it's time for another Astral Chain playthrough.
