The Nintendo Switch recently had a system update that bought the console's version up to 12.0.0. But while that update's patch notes are almost non-existent and it makes virtually no changes to the console's UI or other features, there may be more hiding under the surface. Dataminers quickly jumped into the game's system files to see if there was anything hidden in the update -- and it seems Nintendo may have included code in preparation of support for higher resolution displays and and Bluetooth audio devices.
Twitter user OatmealDome explained in a pair of tweets that dataminers on the website SwitchBrew uncovered code that hints towards these long-speculated and requested features. While none of this date officially confirms that a 4K display output or Bluetooth audio are coming to Switch, the code's presence does align with ongoing rumors surrounding a Switch Pro possibly releasing this year.
Specifically, there seems to be code that tells the Switch to prioritize a 4K display port over the usual USB 3.0 port that the Switch connects to its dock through. Of course, the current Switch model and its dock do not have a 4K display port, so this lends credence to rumors that a more powerful Switch model would include 4K support. Some have theorized that this means 4K support would be handled through a new dock, with a possible adapter being made as well.
The dataminers also noticed a change to the Switch's Bluetooth driver. This update adds lines of code that mention support for various audio functions, such as starting and stopping audio output. Currently, there's no known way to actually use these with either a Bluetooth speaker or headphones. It's unclear whether this feature would be coming to current Switch models as well, or if it's also tied to the Switch Pro rumors. However, while it hasn't been part of the long-running speculation, Bluetooth audio support is something fans have been asking for since the Switch's launch. The only current way to use headphones with it is through the headphone jack on the console itself.
If these two uncovered features are in fact meant to be part of the Switch Pro, it may indicate that the new hardware will use the same firmware as the base Switch. This may mean that the Switch Pro's improvements are mainly tied to a new dock, opening up the possibility that existing Switches could be compatible with them as well. While this is all still speculation, the datamine is a good sign for fans hoping to see Nintendo's hybrid console receive new hardware and quality-of-life improvements this year.