Key Takeaways
- The Switch 2 may offer some kind of performance mode for handheld play.
- The feature would supposedly allow players to pick between prioritizing game performance and battery life.
- A performance mode that can be toggled from a menu would be a first for Nintendo—a company that rarely allows players to make technical decisions over their gaming experiences.
The Nintendo Switch 2 may have some kind of performance mode for handheld play, according to a newly surfaced rumor. Offering such a feature would be a rather uncharacteristic move for Nintendo.
When it comes to design sensibilities, Nintendo generally subscribes to a philosophy that games need to have a one-size-fits-all approach. Aside from a few exceptions, like Breath of the Wild‘s Master Mode, players are rarely given many options to customize how Nintendo games look and play. E.g., it’s a rarity to even see something as simple as a VFX or music volume slider in the company’s modern titles.
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Be that as it may, the Switch 2 may shake things up a bit by offering a dedicated performance mode. That’s according to Spain-based leaker Nash Weedle, who has recently taken to Twitter to claim that Nintendo’s upcoming device will have a “performance selector” in handheld mode, citing an unnamed source with access to the console’s dev kit. This feature will supposedly allow users to choose between prioritizing game performance and Switch 2 battery life.
A Toggleable Switch 2 Performance Mode Would Be a First for Nintendo
No Nintendo console to date has had a performance mode that users can toggle from a menu. Be that as it may, the Switch does kind of offer something similar by supporting both docked and handheld play. When inserted into a dock, the device increases its GPU clock speed and starts outputting a 1080p resolution to a TV rather than powering its 720p display.
The specifics of this purported addition remain unclear. The only other thing that Nash Weedle claimed is that the performance mode will be exclusive to handheld play, implying that its changes will always be in effect when playing docked. As such, the feature is unlikely to be directly related to the recently confirmed Switch 2 backward compatibility. The source of this rumor has a spotty track record with leaks, so it’s advisable to take their claims with a grain of salt.
As for the Switch 2 itself, Nintendo previously promised it will reveal its next console before the end of its current fiscal year on March 31, 2025. The company reiterated that plan in early November 2024, following its latest earnings report. It’s plausible that the Switch 2 will spend at least six months in mass production, which isn’t likely to begin before it’s officially revealed due to the high risk of factory floor leaks spoiling the surprise. Therefore, if the console isn’t announced before the end of 2024, it’s unlikely to hit the market before Q3 2025.
Nintendo
- Date Founded
- September 23, 1889
- Headquarters
- Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
- Parent Company
- Nintendo