All articles tagged with #handheld mode
Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds on Nintendo Switch 2 gets its first hands-on look with 17 minutes of handheld gameplay ahead of Tokyo Game Show; the footage showcases a dynamic, weather-changing Forbidden Lands where hunters pursue monsters, craft weapons and armor from harvested materials, and unravel a village-origin story involving a boy named Nata, with a December 4, 2026 release date and docked play not yet demonstrated.
Capcom confirms Onimusha: Way of the Sword will run on Nintendo Switch 2 with only modest differences from the PS5 version: the Switch 2 build runs at 30 FPS (vs 60 on other platforms), but developers say the experience should feel close, especially in handheld mode, and the release date was moved to September 4, 2026.
Nintendo Switch 2’s 22.0 firmware adds a Handheld Mode Boost that raises resolution and enhances visuals for many older Switch titles when played in handheld mode, as shown in comparison videos: Doom improves to 576p (from 408p), Fire Emblem Warriors to 1080p (vs 720p), and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 often reaches around 720p in many areas, with other titles like Spyro Reignited and No More Heroes 3 also gaining enhancements; results vary by game and not all titles benefit equally.
Nintendo Switch 2’s firmware update 22.0.0 introduces Handheld Mode Boost, letting compatible Switch games run in handheld mode as if in TV Mode to improve visuals (handheld resolution can reach 1080p vs 720p on older handhelds). Power consumption may increase and some features could be affected; enable via Settings > System > Nintendo Switch Software Handling > Handheld Mode Boost; see update notes for full details.
New footage of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 in handheld mode shows mixed performance, with concerns about frame rate issues, but the quality of the footage makes it hard to draw definitive conclusions. The game is expected to launch later this year, with no official release date announced yet.
New footage of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode shows performance issues, with the game set to release later in 2025; the short video provides a limited but insightful look at the gameplay experience.
A new list highlights Nintendo Switch games that automatically run at 1080p in handheld mode on Switch 2, with several titles like 'Baroque' and 'Hyrule Warriors' achieving full 1080p output without patches, thanks to the system's enhanced hardware.
Hori's Tears of Kingdom-themed edition of its Split Pad Pro for Nintendo Switch is back in stock for $60, offering a full-sized, ergonomic controller experience in handheld mode with larger buttons, sticks, triggers, and D-pad than the stock Joy-Cons. It also has two remappable buttons on the back and a turbo function, but lacks vibration and NFC support for Amiibo and can only be used in handheld mode. The Zelda-themed Split Pad Pro is available for pre-order and releases on August 31.
Microsoft is reportedly working on a "Handheld Mode" for Windows, designed to address the problems of running Windows on handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck. The mode includes a simplified game launcher, improved touchscreen keyboard, better controller support, and other changes to Windows' default behaviors. While it's unclear if Handheld Mode will be implemented, the proposed changes could improve the Steam Deck experience. Third-party launchers like Steam's Big Picture Mode and LaunchBox Premium can also partially solve the user interface problem.
Microsoft developers have been experimenting with a handheld mode for Windows 11 to optimize it for devices like the Steam Deck, largely due to the success of Valve's handheld gaming device. During testing, they also worked on a project to create a "windows usermode controller driver for the steam deck internal controller". While it may never become a reality, competition is good and it could give Valve and other developers some ideas to improve their own products.