Nintendo Switch Firmware Version 9.0 Adds Touch Sensitivity And More

Published: September 10, 2019 10:00 AM /

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Nintendo Switch

A new Nintendo Switch firmware update has been released. Version 9.0 adds a number of new options and tweaks to the console's software including touch sensitivity optimization, News Channel search functions, and more.

First up, there's a new search feature for the console's News Channel. You can search for different channels using various filters or you can simply enter free text to find the content you want. There's now a QR code check-in feature which allows you to simply scan a code to check in with your Nintendo Account. The Switch now also has Alarm Notifications, with which you can check or delete pre-set alarms. Nintendo says this function "can be set up only within supported software (to be added at a later time)".

nintendo switch version 9 0

Version 9.0 also contains some big news for touch screen fans. There's now an option to configure touch screen sensitivity. The standard-setting, Normal, is designed for clumsy ordinary human hands. There's now a new Stylus option, which is optimized for stylus input. Essentially, this increases the sensitivity of the touch screen so stylus presses are more easily registered. Great news for Super Mario Maker 2 fans like us.

If you're picking up a Nintendo Switch Lite on September 20th, you'll find a new option just for that console. You can now turn on and off the system button input. When this option is off, the system won't receive input from the buttons and can only be operated via a wirelessly paired controller. You'll only be able to tweak this option if you connect a separate controller, and it'll turn back on when the console is restarted or when it returns from sleep mode.

If you're a social butterfly, rejoice. Nintendo Switch firmware version 9.0 also adds an Online Play Invites section to your User page. This section will display invites from friends to join online play (again in "supported software"). Rounding off this new update are a bunch of general system stability improvements. These include a fix for a bug where some people couldn't start up Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Updating your Switch is simple. Just head over to the Settings page and navigate to the System tab. You'll see a "System Update" option. Hit that and your console will start the update. It should only take a few seconds (depending on your internet connection speed, of course).

Is there anything you think Nintendo has missed in this update? Let us know in the comments below!

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


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Joe has been writing for TechRaptor for five years, and in those five years has learned a lot about the gaming industry and its foibles. He’s originally an… More about Joseph