Super Mario 3D All-Stars Version 1.1.4: Required Switch 2 Update and What’s New

Super Mario 3D All-Stars Version 1.1.4: Required Switch 2 Update and What’s New

Summary:

Super Mario 3D All-Stars has received Version 1.1.4, a new update focused on improving gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2. Although the collection is no longer available to buy digitally from the eShop as of March 2021, players who own it—digitally or physically—can still play, and those with a digital license can redownload it. On Switch 2 specifically, installing Version 1.1.4 is required before launching the compilation, and the patch notes state that several issues have been addressed to enhance how the trio—Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy—behaves on newer hardware. While the notes don’t list individual bug fixes, the intent is clear: better stability and smoother play sessions on Nintendo’s latest system. Below, we explain what changed, why the update is necessary, what to expect in day-to-day play, how to install the update, and how this patch fits alongside prior Switch 2-oriented updates. We also cover availability for anyone returning to the compilation and provide practical tips to help the games feel great on a modern setup.


Super Mario 3D All-Stars Version 1.1.4 changes 

Version 1.1.4 targets a single goal: improving gameplay when Super Mario 3D All-Stars runs on Nintendo Switch 2. The official notes are intentionally brief, but the message is unambiguous—several issues have been addressed for smoother, more reliable play on Nintendo’s newer hardware. For players, that means fewer hiccups that sometimes show up when an older title meets fresh silicon: edge-case crashes, minor timing quirks, or rendering inconsistencies that only occur under the Switch 2’s performance profile. Even without a line-by-line fix list, the requirement to install the update before launching on Switch 2 tells you it’s not optional polish; it’s foundational compatibility work designed to make boot-ups and gameplay feel consistent across the entire collection.

A quick refresher on the collection and its current availability

Super Mario 3D All-Stars bundles three landmark adventures—Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy—originally launched as a limited-time release in 2020 for Mario’s 35th anniversary. The digital version was delisted from the eShop in March 2021, and new physical copies stopped shipping around the same time, leaving second-hand markets as the primary route for new buyers. Owners haven’t been left behind, though. If you bought the digital release, you can still redownload it to a compatible system, and physical owners can continue to play their cartridge. The collection remains a snapshot of Mario’s 3D history, and the new update ensures it plays more cleanly on Nintendo’s newer console.

What “required to play on Switch 2” actually means

The note that Version 1.1.4 is required to play on Switch 2 means the system will check for the patch at launch and prompt you to update before the game starts. This requirement helps Nintendo guarantee that everyone running the collection on Switch 2 has the same, stable baseline. It also means you shouldn’t expect to bypass the update by playing offline; the best path is to connect, download, and proceed. If you switch frequently between a Switch and Switch 2, the game will run on both, but Switch 2 will insist on the newer version to ensure aligned behavior and reduced risk of compatibility-specific issues.

How to update Super Mario 3D All-Stars on Switch 2: the simple flow

Updating is straightforward. With your Switch 2 connected to the internet, highlight Super Mario 3D All-Stars on the HOME Menu, press the “+” Button, and select “Software Update.” Choose “Via the Internet,” then let the console fetch and install Version 1.1.4. If you own the digital version and don’t see the icon, redownload it from your account’s eShop history; once reinstalled, the update cue should appear automatically. Players with physical copies just need the cartridge inserted, after which the update process is the same. When the download completes, launch the game and confirm the version number on the software information screen before diving in.

What to expect in day-to-day play after installing 1.1.4

Because the patch notes emphasize “several issues addressed,” treat 1.1.4 as a quality-of-life pass that smooths out Switch 2-specific rough edges. Expect more stable sessions when moving between modes and menus, more predictable frame pacing in moments where the newer system’s behavior diverged from original assumptions, and reduced anomalies that could appear sporadically on upgraded hardware. You won’t find new features or content, but you should feel a more solid foundation across the three included adventures. That kind of under-the-hood refinement is easy to miss in a bullet list yet tangible when you revisit levels you know by heart.

How 1.1.4 fits alongside earlier Switch 2-focused updates

Version 1.1.4 isn’t the first Switch 2-oriented patch for this compilation. Earlier updates in 2025 also called out adjustments aimed at improving gameplay on the newer system, establishing a pattern of incremental compatibility care. That’s a good sign for anyone building a Switch 2 library that blends new releases with favorites from the previous generation. While none of the patches enumerate micro-fixes, the cadence shows Nintendo tracking feedback and system behavior, then rolling improvements into public builds so everyone benefits. If you’ve skipped updates since launch, installing 1.1.4 effectively catches you up on that entire line of Switch 2 improvements.

Best practices for a smooth session on modern hardware

A few small habits help everything feel snappy. Give the system a clean boot after the update installs so background tasks don’t compete for resources during the first run. If you dock Switch 2, confirm your TV’s game mode is active to mitigate display processing and keep input latency low. In handheld play, keep an eye on battery level; low-power states can occasionally shift thermal behavior and timing in ways that become noticeable in fast platforming. If you use the music player, exit to the main compilation menu before suspending the system, then resume from there to keep navigation silky.

Controller settings and comfort tweaks worth checking

Even though the patch doesn’t add new control features, a quick pass through system-level options can make the classics feel fresh. Calibrate your sticks from the Switch 2 settings menu, especially if you haven’t done so since unboxing. If you prefer inverted camera axes from the 2020 update, double-check those toggles before starting a long session. Docked play with a traditional controller offers a relaxed posture for Sunshine’s precise water-jet adjustments, while handheld’s direct feel suits compact runs in Mario 64. Pick what feels natural for you and stick with it—muscle memory is your best friend in these worlds.

What this update does not change—and why that clarity matters

Version 1.1.4 is about stability on Switch 2; it isn’t a feature overhaul or a visual remaster. You shouldn’t expect new levels, revised textures, or modernized control schemes beyond what the 2020 release already provided. Likewise, the update doesn’t alter the collection’s availability status—there’s no new storefront listing or reissue tied to this patch. Keeping expectations clear prevents confusion and lets you appreciate what the update actually delivers: a smoother, more consistent experience that respects the original compilation while ensuring it behaves predictably on newer hardware.

Troubleshooting: when the update won’t install or the game won’t start

If the console reports that an update is required but stalls, start by rebooting and verifying your connection. Check storage space; archived captures or older downloads can quietly fill the drive. If you own the digital version and the icon is missing, head to your eShop profile, view your purchase history, and redownload the title—licenses persist even after delisting, so you still have access. For physical owners, reseat the cartridge and try again. As a last resort, power off fully rather than entering sleep, then retry the update from the software options screen for a clean handshake with the servers.

Version checks and verifying you’re truly on 1.1.4

To confirm you’ve landed on the correct build, highlight the game on the HOME Menu, press the “+” Button, and open “Software Information.” The version number should read 1.1.4. If it doesn’t, choose “Software Update,” run the internet check again, and wait until the download shows as complete. This quick verification helps avoid the confusion that can come from auto-updates queued behind other downloads or suspended in low-power states.

Why Nintendo’s compatibility work matters for legacy games

Updates like 1.1.4 show a commitment to keeping beloved releases playable as hardware evolves. It’s easy to assume that backward-compatible systems will run everything flawlessly out of the box, but real-world behavior is more nuanced. Timing, drivers, and new system features can reveal edge cases that never existed on original hardware. By requiring the latest version specifically on Switch 2, Nintendo ensures that the broadest group of players share a stable baseline, which reduces support friction and keeps the focus where it belongs: on elegant platforming across three eras of 3D Mario.

Redownloads, ownership, and returning to the collection today

If you already own the digital release, you can redownload it to a compatible console tied to your Nintendo Account even though purchasing it new is no longer possible. That keeps lapsed players in the loop and ensures the Switch 2 update path is available. Physical owners remain covered as well; insert the cartridge and install the update when prompted. For newcomers, secondary markets are the only route, and prices fluctuate. If you do secure a copy, the same update flow applies, and the end result is identical: three polished adventures running more gracefully on modern hardware.

Where the compilation sits in Mario’s broader library today

Super Mario 3D All-Stars threads a needle between preservation and playability. It doesn’t replace native releases or newer reissues, and it doesn’t aim to rewrite history. Instead, it offers a straight path back to three pivotal adventures with sensible quality-of-life touches. On Switch 2, Version 1.1.4 strengthens that proposition by removing distractions that compatibility wrinkles can cause. If you’re revisiting for nostalgia or finishing a first-time run, this patch helps the collection get out of its own way so the design can shine.

Planning a revisit: which game to start with and why

There’s no wrong order, but momentum matters. Mario 64 remains a masterclass in readable level design and tight movement; it’s the perfect warm-up that resets your platforming instincts. Sunshine demands more precision with FLUDD’s nuanced water pressure, so it benefits from a fresh, stable feel after updating. Galaxy, meanwhile, is where spectacle and gravity-bending ideas create a sense of wonder—an ideal capstone once your thumbs are tuned up. With Version 1.1.4 installed on Switch 2, that three-stop tour feels cohesive, familiar, and pleasantly modernized by virtue of smoother behavior.

Small rituals that make sessions feel special

Part of the charm here is setting a tone. Build a routine: pick a star or shine target before each session, limit yourself to a handful of lives, and savor the music player between attempts. These tiny habits help each play sit neatly in your week and keep frustration low during trickier challenges. With Switch 2’s quick suspend-and-resume, it’s easy to pause on a high note, step away, and return when you’re ready to claim that last collectible.

If you skipped earlier patches, why installing now still pays off

Even without granular patch notes, the cumulative effect of Switch 2-focused updates is meaningful. Installing 1.1.4 folds in prior improvements from earlier 2025 releases, so you don’t have to chase multiple downloads or wonder which version handled a specific quirk. Think of it as a single on-ramp to the best current behavior of the compilation on modern hardware. After installation, you can stop thinking about maintenance and just play, confident the experience reflects Nintendo’s most up-to-date guidance for Switch 2.

A cleaner way to enjoy three classics on new hardware

Required updates can feel like a hurdle, but here they serve a simple purpose: make the games feel right. Version 1.1.4 doesn’t trumpet flashy changes because it doesn’t need to. By addressing issues specific to Switch 2 and ensuring everyone starts from the same build, it quietly raises the floor on reliability. For returning players, that means less time fiddling and more time wall-kicking, spraying, and spin-jumping across three of Mario’s most influential adventures. That’s a win worth a quick download.

Conclusion

Version 1.1.4 keeps Super Mario 3D All-Stars feeling solid on Nintendo Switch 2 by resolving compatibility snags and standardizing the required build. It doesn’t alter availability or add features, but it does protect the experience—letting the classics play like they should on modern hardware. Update first, verify the version, and enjoy a smoother run through three timeless worlds.

FAQs
  • Do I need Version 1.1.4 to play on Switch 2?
    • Yes. Switch 2 requires the latest version before launch to ensure stable gameplay.
  • Can I still redownload the digital version after delisting?
    • If you previously purchased it, you can redownload it from your account’s eShop history even though it’s no longer for sale.
  • Does this update add new features or visual upgrades?
    • No. The focus is on addressing issues that affect gameplay behavior on Switch 2.
  • I own the cartridge. How do I update?
    • Insert the cartridge, highlight the game on the HOME Menu, press “+,” select “Software Update,” and choose “Via the Internet.”
  • What if the update won’t install?
    • Reboot the console, check storage and connection, try again from the software options screen, and redownload if you own the digital version and can’t see the icon.
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