After 4 and a half years, the Switch finally gets Bluetooth audio support

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Isaac Todd
September 15, 2021
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Following Sony’s recent example of patching in something that should have been available at launch, Nintendo has added support for Bluetooth audio devices to the Switch via today’s update.

It’s such an odd thing to have skipped out on in a modern console — the Vita had Bluetooth support when it launched 10 years ago.

Perhaps it was withheld until now due to it causing issues with other wireless devices. The patch notes for Ver. 13.0.0 state that only two wireless controllers can be used in conjunction with Bluetooth audio, and it’ll be disabled entirely while local wireless communication is active.

The latest #NintendoSwitch update is now available, including the ability to pair Bluetooth devices for audio output.

For more information, including restrictions on some features while using Bluetooth Audio, please visit the support page: https://t.co/vzAB6lZTDu pic.twitter.com/6J5xcDl5kU
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 15, 2021

This patch comes with another oddity: dock software updates. These will only apply to the newer Switch docks that are launching alongside the OLED model.

While it’s good that the Switch finally has Bluetooth support, it’s still missing folders, themes, a store that isn’t awful to use… At this point, we might end up having to wait another four and a half years for the next meaningful update.

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