Nintendo Quietly Readies Family Game Gifting on Switch and Switch 2

Nintendo has rolled out firmware version 23.5.0 to the original Switch and the Switch 2, and the most notable change is a feature players can't use yet. The update adds support and compatibility for a coming function that will let members of a Nintendo Account family group send games to one another. In other words, the system software is being prepared now, and the gifting itself will arrive in a later update.

The release came as a routine system update with little fanfare. That fits a pattern Nintendo has used before, where new eShop functionality shows up in patch notes before the company makes a formal push around it. Players who check their console settings for updates will see the new version number on both systems, though the gifting option itself is not yet live.

Gifting has long been a familiar feature on digital storefronts, and it has an obvious appeal for households with multiple players. A parent could buy a title for a child, or one family member could pick up a game for another without the recipient needing to make a separate purchase. Keeping the feature tied to family groups suggests Nintendo is aiming it at shared accounts and households rather than friends who play across unrelated accounts.

Several questions remain open. The update notes, as described, don't spell out how a gift is bought, how a recipient redeems it, or which titles will be eligible. Those details will likely come from Nintendo closer to launch, so families interested in the feature should keep an eye on official channels. For now, the practical step is simple: install version 23.5.0 on both consoles so the groundwork is in place when the gifting option goes live.