Nintendo Switch 8.0.0 update adds boost mode to make loading times faster

By Aaron Mamiit April 28, 2019

The Nintendo Switch 8.00 update, which was released a couple of weeks ago, has apparently added a hidden feature that makes games load faster.

The version 8.0.0 patch for the Switch, rolled out on April 15, included several new features that allow players to sort their installed software, transfer save data between devices, and zoom in on their games. Homebrew enthusiasts, however, found an addition that was not included in the official changelog.

Nintendo apparently added what was referred to in a discussion on the Retroarch discord as “boost mode,” which allowed the Nintendo Switch to overclock its CPU to 1.75GHz in certain situations. This is a significant improvement from the CPU’s normal speed of 1GHz.

The hidden boost mode, coupled with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild version 1.6.0, made the game’s loading times much faster. Comparisons made by GBATemp user Brawl345 revealed that the time it takes to load save files was reduced to 21 seconds from 31 seconds, fast travel down to 11 seconds from 19 seconds, and shrine entries quickened to 7 seconds from 10 seconds.

Nintendo also rolled out Super Mario Odyssey version 1.3.0, and while no specific times have been mentioned, the game is also loading much faster with the help of boost mode.

It remains to be seen if Nintendo will eventually reveal boost mode, and if it has other plans to take advantage of the hidden feature. Current software will need to be updated to make use of boost mode, so players should keep an eye out for incoming patches to their games that may result in quicker loading times.

There were rumors that Nintendo was planning to unveil two new Nintendo Switch models at this year’s E3, with the first one to be a cheaper version that will serve as the successor to the aging Nintendo 3DS line, and the second one to be an upgraded version that will target avid gamers. Nintendo has since said that it will not announce new hardware at E3 2019, so for players hoping for a more powerful system, the overclocked Nintendo Switch through boost mode will have to do for now.

Topics

Contributor

Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…

Gaming

Every rumored video game console: Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 Pro and more

A PS5 sits on a table.

History would tell you that 2024 isn't a year where you should expect a lot of new game consoles. We're smack dab in the middle of a console generation and we've already seen the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series S get upgrades during it. A wave of brand new consoles is likely four years away if the precedent set by previous generations holds up.

And yet, we're swimming in hardware rumors these days. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all have rumored systems in the works. On top of that, we're on the verge of an early second generation for portable PCs like the Steam Deck. Companies like Lenovo and Asus are also plotting follow-ups to their own devices. It's a lot to keep track of, with scattered reports sharing rumors about the status of each. To help you stay on top of the news, we've rounded up every major gaming device that's currently in the works. You can expect to see some -- if not all -- of these in the next year.
Nintendo Switch 2

Gaming

World of Goo 2 might just be the Nintendo Switch’s next must-own co-op game

A built structure in World of Goo 2.

When I sat down to demo World of Goo 2 at this year’s GDC, I noted to the developers on hand how surprising it was to see a sequel after so long. “It’s been, what? Ten years?” I said. I was very far off the mark: They noted that the original World of Goo launched in 2008. After playing a few levels (and having an existential crisis over time’s rapid passing), I’d find myself wondering how such an obvious slam dunk didn’t come sooner.

Like its predecessor, World of Goo 2 is a physics-based puzzle game where players craft structures from little, gooey critters. It presents a series of engineering challenges, as poorly built structures will topple under the weight of all those jiggly little pals. Rather than reinventing that concept entirely, World of Goo 2 adds some wild new ideas onto that stable structure that opens up its puzzle potential. The result is a chaotic co-op game that’s a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch.

Gaming

How to transfer data from Nintendo Switch to Switch OLED

Pokémon on Nintendo Switch OLED.

If you've picked up a new Nintendo Switch OLED, you already know that it's a substantial upgrade from the previous iterations of the console. What you may not know, however, is how to transfer your data from your old Switch to your new Switch OLED.

Unfortunately, the transfer process isn't as straightforward as you might expect, so it can be confusing to get things going. However, we've got all the details on how to migrate your user data from one Switch to another, even if you don't have access to your previous system and best Switch games. Here's how to transfer your data from your Switch to the Switch OLED.
How to transfer data from Switch to Switch OLED
Step 1