November 10, 2026, 12:40 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Nintendo has released a new system update for the Nintendo Switch. Version 23.5.0 prepares a new gift feature for the Nintendo eShop. TECHBOOK explains what changes, when the feature will be available, and how to install the update.
Previously, those wanting to gift a digital game to another Switch player often had to resort to credit or a corresponding download code. The Nintendo eShop has not yet offered a direct gift feature. That is about to change.
Nintendo eShop Gets Gift Feature
With the system update 23.5.0 released on November 10, 2026, Nintendo is preparing both the Switch and the Switch 2 for a new gift feature. This will allow digital products from the Nintendo eShop to be gifted directly to other users.
However, it doesn’t work without restrictions. Recipients must be members of the same Nintendo Account family group. The feature is set to be activated after maintenance of the Nintendo eShop planned for November 17, 2026.
How the New Switch Gift Feature Works
Nintendo has already detailed how gifting digital content will work. Users first search for the desired product in the Nintendo eShop on their console. For eligible content, they can then choose to gift the product.
A member of their own Nintendo Account family group can be designated as the recipient. If multiple consoles are linked to the recipient’s account, the desired console can also be selected.
Nintendo even makes the feature a small digital gift. Before purchase, users can select the color of a virtual gift wrap, among other things. After completing the purchase, the gift is immediately sent to the recipient. It appears on their HOME menu, can be opened and accepted there, and is then ready to play.
Nintendo has not yet announced a feature that allows scheduling delivery for a birthday or Christmas, for example. To avoid spoiling the surprise, the gift should be purchased at the time it is meant to appear for the recipient.
Not Just Games Can Be Gifted
Interestingly, Nintendo does not limit the new feature to complete games. Various types of digital products can generally be gifted. These include:
- eligible digital games
- DLCs and expansions
- upgrade packages
However, not every product in the Nintendo eShop will automatically be available as a gift. Nintendo notes that individual content may be excluded. Therefore, it is crucial for buyers to check if the gift option is offered on the respective product page in the eShop.
Gifting Only Works Within the Family Group
The biggest limitation of the new feature lies with the recipient. A game cannot simply be sent to any Nintendo Account or a friend from the friend list. Both sender and recipient must belong to the same Nintendo Account family group. Such a group can include up to eight Nintendo Accounts.
The feature is therefore particularly interesting for families. Parents can, for example, buy a digital game and immediately send it to their child’s account or console. However, it works only to a limited extent in reverse, as Nintendo imposes a restriction on supervised accounts. These can receive digital gifts but are not allowed to purchase and send digital gifts themselves.
Nintendo Sets a Limit for Gifts
Another restriction concerns the number of purchases. According to Nintendo, it will only be possible to buy a limited number of digital gifts within a certain period. Nintendo has not yet specified how high this limit will be or what period it will cover.
Why the company is imposing such a restriction is also unknown. It is conceivable that Nintendo wants to make commercial trading over family groups more difficult. However, Nintendo has not confirmed this reason.
Update 23.5.0 Lays the Foundation
Those who have already installed version 23.5.0 may not immediately notice the gift feature. The system update first establishes the technical prerequisites for it. The actual feature is set to be available after the planned maintenance of the Nintendo eShop on November 17, 2026.
The update itself is usually downloaded automatically, provided the Switch is connected to the internet. To check if version 23.5.0 is already installed, users can find the relevant information under “System Settings,” “Console,” and “System Update.”
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Switch 2 Gets Even More with the Update
While the updates for the original Switch mainly focus on preparing the gift feature as well as general adjustments and bug fixes, the Switch 2 receives additional features.
With version 23.5.0, accessibility settings can already be made during the initial setup of the console. Additionally, Nintendo adds European Portuguese as a language for voice output and for the GameChat function to convert text to speech.
The new eShop gift feature, however, is available on both the Switch and the Switch 2.
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A Long Overdue Feature
Gifting digital games is a practical addition to the Nintendo eShop. Especially within families, it eliminates the need for detours via gift cards or download codes. Gifts can be purchased directly and sent to another account.
However, Nintendo places tight restrictions on the feature. Recipients must be in the same family group, supervised accounts cannot send gifts themselves, and not all eShop products are eligible. Additionally, Nintendo limits how many gifts can be purchased within a certain period.
Nevertheless, the innovation is likely to be of interest to many Switch users, especially with birthdays and Christmas in mind. It will be particularly intriguing to see which games and additional content Nintendo actually makes available for digital gifts and how strict the announced purchase limit will be.