Under-the-hood adjustments to data transmission protocols, fixing minor disconnection issues during Max Raid Battles and ranked online matches.
Before diving into the technical details, let's appreciate the game itself. Pokémon Sword (and its counterpart, Pokémon Shield ) were developed by Game Freak and released in November 2019 as the first mainline entries for the Nintendo Switch console. The games introduced several key innovations:
Install the Pokémon Sword base game file first (either via the XCI cartridge image or the NSP eShop backup). pokemon sword switch nsp xci dlc update 132
This format is a direct dump or clone of a physical Nintendo Switch game cartridge.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield marked a major milestone for the Pokémon franchise, bringing the core RPG experience to a home console for the first time. Years after its initial release, the game remains highly popular on the Nintendo Switch due to its competitive scene, vibrant modding community, and extensive post-launch content. The games introduced several key innovations: Install the
| Feature | NSP (Nintendo Submission Package) | XCI (NX Card Image) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Digital eShop Download | Physical Cartridge Dump | | Installation | Installs to the home menu, requires free space. | Can be mounted directly (SX OS) or installed (modern CFW). | | File Size (Complete) | ~12.4 GB (Game + DLC + Update) | ~12.4 GB (Game + DLC + Update) | | Loading Speed | Slightly faster due to install to NAND | Slower than NSP for initial load | | Ban Risk | High (Detectable fake tickets left in system) | Low to Medium (Harder to trace when used offline) | | Ease of Use (PC) | Must be installed in the emulator. | Can be dragged and dropped into the emulator window. |
For users on custom firmware, the safest approach is to keep your console in "Airplane Mode" and never connect to Nintendo's servers. If you must go online, it’s best to use a clean, unmodified system with officially purchased games to avoid permanent hardware bans. Years after its initial release, the game remains
: It can be launched directly via compatible file managers or emulated to mimic inserting a physical cartridge into the console slot. The Role of Pokémon Sword Update 1.3.2
It patches vulnerabilities and improves matchmaking reliability for Max Raid Battles and online competitive Link Battles.