On December 8, Nintendo released new system updates for the Switch 2 and the original Switch, updating the firmware of both consoles to version 21.1.0. The new Switch and Switch 2 system firmware update will automatically download onto Nintendo consoles that are connected to the Internet.
The latest Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 firmware updates came two weeks after firmware version 21.0.1 was released for both consoles. The previous 21.0.1 fixed some issues where error codes 2011-0301 and 2168-0002 would repeatedly occur when a Switch console conducts a system transfer to a Switch 2. A Bluetooth issue exclusive to Switch 2 consoles that prevented wireless controllers and audio devices from connecting properly after waking the console up from Sleep Mode or turning off Airplane Mode was also addressed. Other stability fixes and improvements were made in version 21.0.1, but Nintendo did not state what those improvements were.
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However, Nintendo players looking for some potential new features for their Switch 2 or Switch consoles may be left disappointed with the latest firmware update. According to Nintendo, the version 21.1.0 release notes for both the Switch and Switch 2 consoles were vague and brief, as the company stated that the new firmware patch improved general system stability on both consoles. No new features for either Nintendo system were mentioned by the company, and it is not clear which bugs or issues were fixed with the version 21.1.0 firmware patch as of this writing.
Like the previous version 20.0.1 system firmware, the new system updates for the Switch and Switch 2 consoles will automatically be downloaded once connected to the Internet. Alternatively, updates can be conducted manually from the System Settings menu, which can be accessed from the Home Menu on the Switch and Switch 2 by selecting the cog-shaped icon on the bottom right side of the screen.
A Conclusion To a Busy Year For Nintendo
The new system update comes at the end of a busy year for Nintendo, which started with the reveal and subsequent release of the Switch 2 console. As the successor to the original Switch, the Switch 2 includes features like a bigger display, larger Joy-Con controllers, and a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 processor that supports technologies like Nvidia DLSS upscaling. So far, the Switch 2 has set sales records across the globe, with over 10 million units sold as of late September. Along with exclusive games like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World, the Switch 2 can play original Switch games via backward compatibility. However, some Switch titles like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and Super Mario Odyssey have received free updates that take advantage of the Switch 2’s upgraded hardware specs. It remains to be seen if more original Switch titles will receive Switch 2 patches or upgrades in 2026.
Along with the launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo released Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on both the Switch 2 and original Switch systems. As one of the biggest game releases of 2025, the launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was the conclusion of an eight-year journey that started during E3 2017, when it was first teased by Nintendo. Following a troubled development that was restarted by Retro Studios, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond returned to the spotlight in June 2024 during a Nintendo Direct episode. The Switch 2 edition of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond came with some extra features, including support for 120hz gameplay on supported displays and in handheld mode, along with mouse control support via the Joy-Con 2 controllers.
With 2026 right around the corner, Nintendo’s support for the Switch and Switch 2 consoles shows no signs of slowing down. Given that Nintendo has titles like Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave planned to arrive in 2026, time will tell how the gaming giant will keep the momentum going in the year ahead.
Switch 2 Ver. 21.1.0 – Patch Notes (Released December 8, 2025)
- General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.
Switch Ver. 21.1.0 – Patch Notes (Released December 8, 2025)
- General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.
