Nintendo has quietly rolled out a new update for Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and unlike many patches that arrive with a mix of fixes and tweaks, version 1.2.0 is specifically focused on making the game a better fit for Nintendo Switch 2.
The surprise update is available now and introduces higher-resolution display support for Pikmin 3 Deluxe on Switch 2. Once the patch is installed, the game should appear noticeably sharper, whether players are enjoying it in handheld mode or playing on a television while the console is docked.
Nintendo says the updated display support takes advantage of the Switch 2’s higher-resolution capabilities as well as high-resolution TVs. The result is a sharper image compared to the original Switch version, giving the colourful environments and armies of tiny Pikmin a cleaner presentation on Nintendo’s newer hardware.
The update also adds GameShare support, giving Switch 2 owners another way to play Pikmin 3 Deluxe with others. The feature can be accessed from the title screen through the game’s Bingo Battle mode, where players can now choose between playing with people nearby or using game chat.
That makes the update more than a simple resolution bump, particularly for anyone who has been looking for a reason to revisit Pikmin 3 Deluxe on Nintendo’s newer console. While the game already benefited from a substantial visual upgrade when it originally launched as a Deluxe version, the new patch gives the Switch 2 version another small technical boost.
It is worth pointing out that version 1.2.0 does not introduce any changes to the original Nintendo Switch version of Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Nintendo’s patch notes specifically list the new features and display improvements under Switch 2, while the Switch section simply states that there are no changes.
The update is therefore a fairly targeted upgrade rather than a major new content drop. Still, Nintendo’s decision to quietly improve an older Switch title shows how some of the company’s existing library is continuing to receive attention on Switch 2.
For players who already own Pikmin 3 Deluxe, there is no need to purchase a separate version to take advantage of these improvements. Installing version 1.2.0 on Nintendo Switch 2 brings the higher-resolution display support and GameShare functionality to the game.
The full version 1.2.0 changes are:
- The display now supports Nintendo Switch 2’s display and high-resolution TVs, resulting in a sharper image in both docked and handheld modes.
- GameShare is now supported in Bingo Battle.
- From the title screen, players can choose between “Play with people nearby” and “Play via game chat.”
- There are no changes to the Nintendo Switch version.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe originally brought the Wii U strategy game to Nintendo Switch with additional story content, new difficulty options and other improvements. With version 1.2.0, Nintendo is giving the game another technical refresh for Switch 2, even if the update is considerably smaller than the sort of Switch 2 Edition upgrades seen elsewhere in the company’s library.