Nintendo Switch Update 18.0.0 Drops Out With New Changes Instead of Simple Stability

Nintendo Switch system software update 18.0.0 was released today bringing a small list of changes aside from the usual stability updates.

One notable addition is the “15 Minutes” option for the “Auto-sleep when playing on TV” setting within Sleep Mode Settings, providing users with more flexibility in managing their console’s power-saving features. Additionally, the update includes Korean language support for the “Nintendo Switch Parental Controls” introductory video, making the parental controls feature more accessible to Korean-speaking users. This video can be found in the Settings menu under Parental Controls when the console’s language is set to Korean. The update also focuses on general system stability improvements, continuing the trend of past updates aimed at ensuring a smoother and more stable user experience.

Nintendo Switch Update 18.0.0 Patch Notes

Ver. 18.0.0 (Released March 25, 2024)

• Added “15 Minutes” as an option for “Auto-sleep when playing on TV” in Sleep Mode Settings.
• Added Korean as a supported language for “Nintendo Switch Parental Controls” introductory video.
• When the console language is set to Korean, the video can be accessed from Settings > Parental Controls.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Looking back at the history of updates since October 2022, it’s clear that Nintendo has consistently worked on system software enhancements, primarily focusing on system stability and user experience improvements. For example, version 17.0.1, released on December 4, 2023, addressed an issue with local communication for some software. The update cycle has also introduced minor yet significant changes, such as in version 16.0.0, which dealt with user nicknames that are not permitted, defaulting them to “???” for users to update from their profile settings. Additionally, version 15.0.1 tackled specific error codes and issues preventing screenshots in certain in-game scenes, while version 15.0.0 made adjustments to the location of the Bluetooth Audio menu and allowed screenshots within the Nintendo Switch Online application, though video capture remained unsupported.

Nintendo has been rumored to be working on a successor for the Nintendo Switch that is reportedly planned for a launch in 2025.