Nintendo Switch 2: Videos show drastic graphics upgrades with Nintendo's new boost mode
The Nintendo Switch 2 ($449 on Amazon) has been updated to firmware version 22.0, which adds a so called "Handheld Mode Boost". Once this function has been activated in the system settings, games that were originally developed for the first-generation Nintendo Switch and that have not received an update for the Switch 2 will also be played in TV mode if they are played in handheld mode.
As games are often displayed in a higher resolution in TV mode, this can significantly improve the graphics of some games. For example, Doom now runs in 576p instead of 408p resolution, with a higher level of detail. Fire Emblem Warriors can now be played in 1,080p instead of 720p, or with 720p resolution and unlocked frame rate. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is one of the games that benefits the most, because while the resolution could previously drop to 368p, it should now reach 720p in most areas.
The videos from GVG and Nintendo Life show how drastic the graphics improvements actually are in practice. These videos show some curious situations. For example, Xenoblade Chronicles X looks much better in the Switch 1 version with boost mode than the Switch 2 edition of the game, although the latter is displayed at 60 frames per second instead of 30.
Not all games only show a higher resolution. Spyro Reignited Trilogy gets better graphics settings in boost mode, and looks much more vibrant thanks to more detailed shadows and denser vegetation. No More Heroes 3 finally has a resolution that is sufficient to recognize objects in the background.
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