Nintendo has quietly rolled out a new system update for Switch and Switch 2. Firmware 23.5.0 appears unremarkable at first glance, but it prepares a feature that many families will appreciate: the ability to gift digital games from the Nintendo eShop.
When will the eShop gifting feature launch?
According to Nintendo, the function will go live with an eShop update on November 17, 2026. The new firmware merely provides the technical foundation for this. So, anyone who has installed the update is already prepared for when the switch is flipped.
Members of a Nintendo Account family group can gift items to each other. Anyone with a Nintendo Account can set up such a group, allowing for up to eight members. Digital products purchased through the eShop on your console can be gifted: compatible games, DLCs, and upgrade packs.
Limitations at a glance
- Not every product is enabled for gifting.
- Supervised accounts (child accounts) cannot send gifts.
- The number of gift purchases within a specific period is limited.
- Gifts are only for members within the family group, not for arbitrary friends.
Additionally, the update includes minor adjustments: accessibility settings can now be configured during the initial console setup, and Portuguese (Portugal) has been added to the text-to-speech languages and GameChat voice output. General adjustments and bug fixes are also included.
Why isn't family gifting a true comeback for the Wii feature?
The idea isn't entirely new: on the Wii, players could send WiiWare and Virtual Console games to anyone on their friends list via the Wii Shop Channel. This option disappeared in 2019 when the shop was shut down. The new version is much more narrowly defined, as it is limited to the family group. This is sufficient for birthdays or Christmas within the household, but it does not allow for gifting to a best friend or a squadmate.
Practical tip: If you plan to put games under the tree for the holidays, set up the family group in good time and update your consoles to version 23.5.0 so that nothing stands in the way on November 17.
Who in your family circle would be the first person you'd gift a game to – and which one?
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