When to update your firmware of your switch - Always staying on latest firmware?

[Rangerocker]

Hi,

I was wondering what are the pro's and con's of updating your Switch firmware.

Is it good to stay at a lower firmware, or in other words is it good to stay on the lowest firmware possible?

Known reasons for updating the firmware: Games requiring higher firmware.


Are there any con's by always staying on the latest firmware? (assuming sigpatches and atmosphere is supported, too.)

 

[Goku1992A]

To play the latest games you have to be on firmware however there is an exception ... 13.1.0 is pretty safe so you don't have to update for a while because the newest CFW is 13.2.0 (the only issues would be any new game updates and DLC) but for vast majority of games 13.1.0 would be sufficient.

The only cons if you update without sigpatches support and some programs will not work anymore because I experienced that so it's safe to wait a few weeks before updating.

 

[Draxzelex]

Hi,

I was wondering what are the pro's and con's of updating your Switch firmware.

Is it good to stay at a lower firmware, or in other words is it good to stay on the lowest firmware possible?

Known reasons for updating the firmware: Games requiring higher firmware.


Are there any con's by always staying on the latest firmware? (assuming sigpatches and atmosphere is supported, too.)

Eventually you have to update your firmware because newer games require higher firmware versions but there isn't much reason to always be on the latest firmware unless Nintendo haven't released a new firmware in months. The latest firmware is usually unstable for CFW & homebrew and only gets worse the higher you go.

 

[Zkajavier]

When a game you want to play requires a higher firmware.
When you want to use a new feature (like it happened when Bluetooth was added)
When it's been a while and you know the homebrew you use works fine on the new firmware.

In short: if your current firmware is working just fine with what you have and use, there's no immediate need to update.