Earlier this year, back in March, we saw the release of a brand new 5.0.0 firmware update for the Nintendo Switch. It was an overall minor update, giving users better control over their parental controls, changing the way the news app entries were filtered, and a handful of new avatars. Now, we're almost to September, and a new milestone firmware is on the horizon. A 6.0.0 update has been leaked by the CDN, and some of its contents were datamined. The update file itself currently lurks in the darker parts of the web, if one dares to hunt it out. It's not advised that you try to mess with that, however.

While the full details of the update are not currently clear, hackers have datamined the update with fairly interesting results. Like the last update, there's new avatars, this time focusing on Captain Toad. There's 2 Toad avatars, 2 Toadette, 1 Draggadon, and 1 Wingo that have been added.

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This is also an update that prepares for the imminent launch of the Nintendo Online Services, with a new slogan on the eShop being written as "More Games, More Features, More Fun". Cloud save data backups have been added, too, and will happen automatically if you put your system into sleep mode. Supposedly, measures have also been put in place through telemetry in order to have a higher rate of detection on those who use exploits and CFW. There may also be a new master key.

Furthermore, a large banner of controller icons were datamined, with NES and SNES controllers. What their purpose is has not been identified yet. Theories range from it bringing new controller type support, or icons for the new NES and SNES games that will be offered with the online service. A release of potentially Monday next week, September 3 has been cited as the most likely time that the update will drop. Regardless of when the update hits, a news post covering the official release and its details will be posted, so stay tuned.

As always, if you value keeping your system primed for homebrew, you'll want to refrain from updating before a full breakdown is available. Are you wary of this update? Excited? Shocked that it's not just stability patches? What do you think of the new 6.0.0 update?

 

[MaxiBash]

Yeah, I watched GameXplain, the new icons are something that interrests me the most.

 

[linuxares]

Save Backups.... One and a half year later... about bloody time.

 

[damiano2712]

I'm never gonna update, I don't wanna lose CFW.

 

[Chary]

Pack it up folks, no stability memes this time. But maybe now icon/avatar jokes will become the norm? Not a lot of changes, for something that calls itself 6.0.

 

[JellyPerson]

mmmMMMM that's sum gud paid oNLINE mMMMM

 

[Bladexdsl]

Pack it up folks, no stability memes this time. But maybe now icon/avatar jokes will become the norm? Not a lot of changes, for something that calls itself 6.0.

General avatar improvements to enhance the user's experience?

 

[fisher6]

Given how compromised the Switch is due to RCM, isn't possible to easily extract the new master key??

 

[sarkwalvein]

Save Backups.... One and a half year later... about bloody time.

Good thing my Switch still hasn't bricked/gone missing/exploded.
At least the save backups is something I am longing for.

Yeah, good thing. Perhaps.

 

[CaptainSodaPop]

We can backup our saves now! So exciting!

EDIT: New avatars are cool, though.

 

[leon315]

Cloud Save Backups... too bad this feature is behind the Ninty's GREAT PAYWALL...

 

[sarkwalvein]

Cloud Save Backups... too bad this feature is behind the Ninty's GREAT PAYWALL...

True... well, we have to see how they are implementing this.
If you have to pay the subscription only to get the backups back, that's milking it, but oh well, it may still be useful.
If you have to pay the subscription also for uploading the backups, then that will be too late when I need it.

 

[CaptainSodaPop]

3rd and 4th icons (on pics that were datamined) from the right look like play style of controls to adapt for GameBoy games. Guess they're doing Virtual Console alternative judging from everything.

 

[naddel81]

Given how compromised the Switch is due to RCM, isn't possible to easily extract the new master key??

that's exactly what I am wondering aswell.

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

Oddly enough, those NES Controllers look like they have a Joycon esk concept. The middle gradient is interesting.

 

[Subtle Demise]

Fake because program is spelled wrong.

Spoiler: Hint

I was just joking before anyone crucifies me

Surprised there's a Nintendo update that actually does something.

 

[leon315]

True... well, we have to see how they are implementing this.
If you have to pay the subscription only to get the backups back, that's milking it, but oh well, it may still be useful.
If you have to pay the subscription also for uploading the backups, then that will be too late when I need it.

I'm sure that cloud save works exactly has his competitors' ones: you can't upload any saves on clouds if premium sub is NOT active and all access are denied as soon as ur subscription expires.

@RedBlueGreen BUT at least both $ony and m$'s console allow u to back ur saves on a USB drive, which similar feature is not available on Switch.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Cloud Save Backups... too bad this feature is behind the Ninty's GREAT PAYWALL...

Sony does this too with PS Plus. Not saying agree with it, but let's not act like Nintendo came up with it first.

 

[linuxares]

Sony does this too with PS Plus. Not saying agree with it, but let's not act like Nintendo came up with it first.

That is true, but Sony allow local saves.

 

[leonmagnus99]

we can already backup saves with checkpoint