Highlights
- A Nintendo Switch update adds new banned words, focusing on specific phrases and combinations for player safety.
- Unofficial patch notes reveal details of the update, including new language restrictions and additions to the bad word list.
- Recent Switch 2 leaks claim the console's launch will be delayed so Nintendo can build up a stronger lineup of launch titles.
The Nintendo Switch has received a new update that introduces some minor improvements centered around player safety. This update is a follow-up to the Nintendo Switch's last firmware update, which was released late last year.
In December, Nintendo released a new patch for the Switch known as update 17.0.1. The update, like many other Switch updates, included vague patch notes which stated that general improvements had been made to improve the console's overall user experience. It also included a patch note which explained that 17.0.1 resolved an issue for local communication between certain software. The Switch's newest update focused on a different area.
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After the delay of a highly-anticipated announcement, Nintendo stocks take a dip, though analysts assure traders that prices will recover.
The Switch's February 19 update added more words and phrases to the console's banned words list. These include combinations of the word "hate" or "h8" in conjunction with various ethnic groups, some death threats in Japanese, and the Japanese-language phrase for "stop being friends." Nintendo does not release official patch notes for minor updates like this one, but a helpful dataminer put together an unofficial version. Also, the new update does not require a reboot to download. Although the update solves important problems, it's probably not a particularly exciting one for most Switch users, but fortunately, juicy Switch 2 news recently leaked.
An insider now claims that the Switch 2 will be revealed in June, following recent reports that the console's launch has been delayed until early 2025. Reportedly, the Switch 2 was originally meant to launch in the second half of 2024, but this window was pushed back due to Nintendo wanting to build up a stronger lineup of launch titles for the console's anticipated release. The same insider also believes that a Nintendo Direct will take place in April, which will focus on the company's future first-party games.
Nintendo recently confirmed an additional Direct, which will be a Partner Showcase and will take place tomorrow on February 21. The 25-minute-long presentation will focus on Nintendo's third-party titles created by its development and publishing partners. One Nintendo insider claimed that a new Endless Ocean will be shown at the presentation, which is a long-dormant scuba-diving adventure series originally released on the Wii. The same insider also claimed that Penny's Big Breakaway and a project from Game Freak will be shown tomorrow. However, it's important to note that these are only rumors at this point.
Tomorrow's February 21 Direct being a Partner Showcase unfortunately means that Nintendo's future first-party titles, like Princess Peach: Showtime and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, probably won't be shown during the presentation. The new Princess Peach game is set to launch on March 22, while the new Paper Mario game is set to release sometime in 2024.
Unofficial Patch Notes for New Nintendo Switch Update
New phrases added to the banned words list:
- Combinations of the word “hate” / “h8” and minority groups
- Various Japanese-language death threats
- “Stop being friends” (“トモダチヤメ”) in Japanese
Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo's newest system features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. Improvements to visuals, audio, and connectivity make a strong impact on highly detailed gameplay and setup is extremely easy.
- Dimensions
- 2.9 x 6.5 x 7.9 in
- Weight
- 1 lb
- Chipset
- NVIDIA Tegra
- Storage
- 64 GB
