The update launched today and should be available to Switch devices worldwide now. It has the version number v3.0.0, signifying a major release that includes new capabilities. The full patch notes, obtained by Eurogamer, include several notable improvements, including the option to add friends from your Friend List on previous Nintendo systems.
If you’ve collated a long list of friends on a Nintendo 3DS or Wii U console, you can now import them into the Switch. They’ll show up in the console’s Friend List, letting you connect with other players if you haven’t already added them to the Switch.
Nintendo has also added a “Find Controllers” option that helps you to search for a missing controller. If you’ve lost one of your Joy-Cons, the Switch can now tell you its location when it was last connected to the console.
Changes to the interface include notifications for when friends come online, the option to change the user icon order on the Home Menu and the ability to subscribe to game channels. Registered channels will then show up in News, letting you stay up to date on announcements from your favourite titles.
There’s more new features too. Nintendo has implemented a storage monitor utility that alerts you when you’re running out of space. If there’s not enough room for an update to install, the console will intelligently suggest content you could delete to free up space. Updates themselves should go smoother as a bug that prevented games from installing has now been fixed.
Although the update includes many tweaks and improvements, Nintendo still hasn’t implemented some of the top fan-requested features. The Switch has met with an exceptionally positive response but core areas of its software remain undeveloped. Conspicuously, there’s no support for media streaming apps like Spotify, YouTube and Netflix.
Also notably lacking is the ability to backup game save files to the cloud. This doesn’t change with the update either, leaving players at risk of data loss if something happens to their device. Other common requests, such as the option of using wireless headphones with the device, remain in the backlog for now.
Likewise, progress continues on Nintendo Switch Online, the awaited upcoming multiplayer platform for the new console. This month, Nintendo confirmed the service will not launch until 2018, leaving the Switch without a fully-featured online platform until after the holiday season.
Nonetheless, the latest update signals Nintendo is still developing the Switch’s software at a steady pace. You should be able to download the new release today. If your console is connected to the Internet, it should be downloaded automatically. You then need to save your progress in any games and click “Update” on the installation prompt. The Switch will reboot once the new software is ready to use.
