Arceus Just Got A Major Official Upgrade

Launching back in 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 brought with it a larger screen, more powerful hardware and perhaps most importantly, allowed games to be displayed at a much higher resolution. Since its release, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been a hit with Nintendo fans, by giving them all the best features of the Nintendo Switch, but with major quality-of-life improvements. However, there is always a catch.

Pokémon Legends Arceus Looks Way Better On Switch 2

A female character from Pokemon Legends Arceus looks at a ball of light.

The arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 saw many Nintendo Switch games receive a remastered port. However, due to the Switch 2’s higher resolution, many Switch 1 games looked blurry and low quality when used on the newer model’s handheld mode. As such, receiving a “remastered” port did not really work out the way that Nintendo had hoped. Unfortunately, games such as 2022’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus was just one of the many games affected. Until now.

Courtesy of the Nintendo Switch’s brand-new system update which rolled out earlier today, Version 22.0.0 adds a “Handheld Mode Boost”. This will allow Nintendo Switch games to think that they are in TV mode when they are in fact in handheld mode. As a result, games played during this time can run at a much higher resolution in TV mode, taking full advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s higher resolution. The “Handheld Mode Boost” can be enabled in your settings.

Following the major update, fans have been trying out some of the Nintendo Switch games which did not look their best on the upgraded handheld, and it seems as though Pokémon Legends: Arceus is looking better than ever.

This Nintendo Switch 2 Update Is Already A Hit

Trainers from Pokemon Legends Z-A and Pokemon Legends Arceus with key art from Arceus behind them.

Courtesy of Twitter users Kevin (The Pizza Man) and JR, we can see that Pokémon Legends: Arceus has really benefited from the latest Nintendo Switch 2 update. “Hard to tell probably but oh my God, Legends Arceus looks so much better handheld now,” Kevin said, whilst JR wrote, “I think it’s time for me to get back with Legends Arceus now that it looks extra crispy in 1080p handheld.”

Being met with a myriad of positive reviews upon its launch whilst going on to sell over 14 million copies in just over a year, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is definitely a Nintendo Switch entry that deserved that remaster port, and now that the remaster now actually offers improved fidelity, graphics, and performance, there is no better time to try it out on the Nintendo Switch 2. Hopefully this long-awaited update will pave the way for future Nintendo Switch titles which receive their upgraded ports.