Nintendo is finally making it easier to buy digital games for family members. The company has released system update 23.5.0 for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, introducing support for an upcoming eShop gifting feature.
The update, released on November 9, 2026, will allow players to purchase digital games, DLC, and upgrade packs for other members of their Nintendo Account family group. The feature is expected to become available next week, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
In Brief:
- Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 update 23.5.0 adds support for digital eShop gifting.
- Players can gift eligible games, DLC, and upgrade packs to members of their Nintendo Account family group.
- Gifts can be customized with wrapping colors and delivered directly to the recipient’s HOME Menu.
- The gifting feature is expected to launch around November 16 or 17, following an eShop update.
Nintendo Switch Finally Lets Players Gift Digital eShop Games
Nintendo has confirmed that Switch and Switch 2 owners will soon be able to purchase digital products as gifts for other members of their family group.
Previously, buying digital games for someone else often meant purchasing an eShop gift card or finding another workaround. The upcoming feature makes the process much more straightforward.
According to Nintendo’s official announcement, players will be able to gift:
- Eligible digital Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 games
- Downloadable content (DLC)
- Game upgrade packs
However, gifting is restricted to Nintendo Account family groups, which can contain up to eight members. Players won’t be able to send gifts to just anyone on their friends list.
How to Gift Nintendo Switch Games Through the eShop
Nintendo has also explained how the new gifting system will work.
Once the feature becomes available, players can follow these steps:
- Open the Nintendo eShop and select the game or DLC you want to purchase.
- Choose the “Give as a Gift” option on the product page.
- Select a recipient from your Nintendo Account family group.
- Choose which linked console should receive the gift.
- Select a gift-wrapping color and complete the purchase.
The recipient will then receive a wrapped present directly on their console’s HOME Menu.
They can open the present, accept the gift, and start playing without needing to enter a download code.
Nintendo also confirmed that gifts are delivered immediately after purchase, so players cannot schedule delivery for a later date.
Nintendo eShop Gifting Comes With Some Restrictions
Although the new system is a welcome addition, Nintendo has introduced several restrictions.
- Only members of the same Nintendo Account family group can exchange gifts.
- Some digital products may not support gifting.
- Supervised accounts cannot send digital gifts.
- Nintendo limits the number of digital gifts that can be purchased within a certain period.
These restrictions mean the feature isn’t quite as flexible as digital gifting on platforms like Steam, but it should make sharing games with family members considerably easier.
Nintendo Switch Update 23.5.0 Also Includes Other Improvements
Alongside eShop gifting support, Nintendo Switch 2 is receiving several additional improvements.
The update adds accessibility configuration options during the console’s initial setup and introduces Portuguese support for Text to Speech and GameChat’s Convert Text to Speech functionality.
Both consoles also receive general fixes and adjustments intended to improve the user experience.
Nintendo’s official notice lists November 17 as the scheduled eShop update date, while its separate US announcement mentions November 16.
Either way, with the feature arriving ahead of the holidays, Nintendo players will soon have a much more convenient way to surprise family members with digital games.
