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Pikmin 4's Free Update is out now, Auto Target Lock can be disabled

Looks like the wait wasn't long after all! In a surprise late-night drop, Nintendo has finally released Pikmin 4's new Free Update.


While we thought we knew all the content that would be included in the Ver. 1.1.0 update, Nintendo has sneakily added a highly-requested feature to Pikmin 4: the ability to disable the game's Auto Target Lock feature.

Check out Nintendo's full patch note list below:

Pikmin 4 free update

Newly Added Gameplay

  • You can now choose from three different activity levels for creatures: Relaxed, Normal, and Fierce.

    • This can be changed at any time from Settings in Options (- Button).

  • You can now take pictures with the “Field Camera” item and decorate them with stamps and frames.

    • The Field Camera is added to your bag on the morning of day 2.

    • If resuming save data from before the software is updated, it will be added to your bag when you return to the Rescue Command Post and morning arrives.

  • ”Decor Pikmin” will now appear in the story.

    • To have Decor Pikmin join your squad, after rescuing the Rescue Corps Ranger Dingo, use the Field Camera to take pictures of a Decor Pikmin.

  • By sharing the data of Decor Pikmin who have joined your squad in the full version of Pikmin 4 with the smart device application Pikmin Bloom, you can also get seedlings for those same Decor Pikmin in Pikmin Bloom.

    • You can send the Nintendo Account ID and discovered Decor Pikmin data when you finish exploration on the day the Decor Pikmin was discovered.

    • The Nintendo Account must be the same between the user playing Pikmin 4 and the one playing Pikmin Bloom.

  • You can now use “Roll Over” in which you begin another playthrough, carrying over some of the save data on a file that has cleared the story.

    • With save data present that has cleared the story, select an empty Rescue Database on the file selection screen.

  • If you have ever reached the morning of day 2 in the story, you may skip that introduction when playing again from the beginning.

    • You begin from exploration day 2 in which you head for Sun-Speckled Terrace after creating an ID Badge.


Newly Added Controls

The following control settings have been added to Settings in the Options menu (- Button).

  • You may switch between enabling and disabling Auto Target Lock for Cursor.

  • You may select either the cursor or the player avatar as the center point of the whistle.

    • This is set to “Player Avatar” when you begin with the activity level set to “Relaxed,” but this may be changed at any time.

  • You may now select either “Normal” or “Precise” for the speed of the arrow that appears when you hold down X to aim. Setting this to “Precise” will make it easier to adjust the direction of the Pikmin’s Charge and Oatchi’s Rush.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed other issues to improve the gameplay experience.

Note: A patch with the same changes has also been distributed for the Pikmin 4 demo (Ver. 1.1.0). The demo version cannot link to the Pikmin Bloom smart device application.


When Pikmin 4 first launched on Nintendo Switch in 2023, long-time fans and newcomers were disappointed by the game's lack of customization when it came to the new Auto Target Lock feature. While Auto Target Lock was intended to help players minimize their chances of missing Pikmin throws, many players felt it hindered the game's difficulty. It may have taken a couple of years, but fans who desired a toggle for the feature can finally enjoy the game to their liking!


Will you be replaying Pikmin 4 this week? Do you plan to start a new run or continue your old save file to find all the Decor Pikmin and take photos? Let us know in the comments!


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