New Switch system update improves stability, updates banned words

The latest Nintendo Switch firmware update is available to download now.

The version 16.0.1 update appears to be a minor one, with only one patch note on Nintendo’s support site.

According to Nintendo the new update features “general system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.”

Dataminer OatmealDome, who frequently compares system updates to identify what has actually changed, notes that the patch has also updated the console’s internal list of banned words.

“The official patch notes state ‘stability’ as the sole change,” they said on Twitter, adding: “Internally, the bad words lists were rearranged to reduce erroneous blocking, and various words were added/removed in some languages.”

They also noted: “The ‘BCAT’ system module was changed in some way, but I’m not sure how. That being said, it’s probably a bug fix (or fixes?) given how difference reports show no major changes. And that’s it.”

The Switch’s last notable update was version 14.0.0, which was released back in March 2022 and added the ability to create folders.

The much-requested feature, which Nintendo calls ‘Groups’, allows users to more conveniently manage their software libraries on the Switch Home Menu.

Further reading

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Firmware 14.0.0 also made changes to how Bluetooth audio controls work on Switch, with the on-system volume control now properly reflecting a device’s own controls.

Earlier this month respected content creator and NightDive Studios developer ModernVintageGamer stated that Nintendo‘s Switch successor could face significant challenges implementing backwards compatibility.

In a recently-published video, MVG dug into the possible components for Nintendo’s next console, and explained why incompatibility between new hardware and how current Nintendo Switch software is compiled means that support for legacy Switch games isn’t necessarily a given.