Switch

September is just around the corner and, unless you've somehow managed to miss the news, this means that we're about to see Nintendo's brand new paid-for online service kick into action. The service will be launching in the second half of the month, and you'd imagine that the console would need a pretty substantial firmware update to accommodate the changes; as it turns out, dataminers seem to have uncovered exactly what we can expect to see.

While it isn't available to the public just yet, hackers have managed to find out that the console's Version 6.0.0 firmware update has already been uploaded to Nintendo's servers. By accessing features early and rummaging through saved files, these users have picked out certain elements of the incoming changes, sharing information and photographs across various online forums.

Unsurprisingly, the main changes relate to the Nintendo Switch Online service. Apparently, the phrase "More Games. More Features. More Fun." is used as a branding slogan for the subscription, and dataminers have taken photographs of a new 'Save Data Cloud Backup' option accessible from a game's options menu. It would also appear that new user icons based on the Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker will be released, featuring Toad himself, Toadette, Wingo and Draggadon.

Save Data Cloud Backup
6icon

Elsewhere, it appears that we might be about to receive new, officially-licensed Switch controllers that take on the appearance of the Famicom, NES, and SNES/Super Famicom. The image below reportedly shows a new batch of controller icons - alongside those that we're already familiar with - which would be used on screens such as the controller syncing menu. Third-party controllers usually just display as an ordinary Joy-Con or Pro Controller, so these new designs suggest Nintendo has its own line of controllers on the way.

Of course, with the Online Service set to feature a collection of NES games from the word go, this could indicate that the controllers are designed to be used with these retro titles. Rather than new controllers, perhaps the NES and SNES mini controllers will be supported?

As always, until Nintendo announces anything related to the information shared here, we'd urge you to take everything with a large pinch of salt. We don't have long to wait now until we see the Online Service in action, and we're sure we'll find out whether or not these things come true at that time.

In the meantime, though, why not let us know what you think about these potential findings? Do you expect to see version 6.0.0 drop soon? What do you think of those controller icons? Let us know below.

[source twitter.com, via reddit.com]