Nintendo is rolling out a built‑in way for family groups to send digital games to each other on the Switch, just in time for the holiday season.
Key points
- Digital gifting will be available on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 starting Nov. 16, 2026.
- Only eligible games, DLC, and upgrade packs can be gifted, and supervised accounts are excluded.
- A system update to version 23.5.0 (or higher) is required for the feature to work.
- Gifts are delivered instantly to the recipient’s HOME Menu and can be played right away.
A new eShop feature will let members of a Nintendo family group purchase and deliver digital games, DLC and upgrade packs to other members of the same group. The functionality is scheduled to appear on both Nintendo Switch™ and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 on November 16, according to Nintendo’s official announcement.
To send a gift, users navigate to the desired product in the eShop, tick the “Give as a Gift” checkbox, and complete the purchase. They then choose a recipient from their family group list and select which of the recipient’s linked consoles should receive the title. Optional gift‑wrap colors and other settings can be applied before finalizing the transaction, and the gift is delivered instantly.
How the gifting feature works
Recipients find the gifted title on their HOME Menu, where it can be accepted and launched right away. Nintendo describes the process as a quick way to celebrate special occasions, especially for families with children.
Not every product qualifies for gifting; some titles are excluded. Accounts that are supervised cannot send gifts, and Nintendo imposes a limit on the number of digital gift purchases within a given timeframe. These constraints are intended to prevent abuse of the system.
Eligibility and limitations
The feature requires consoles running system version 23.5.0 or later, an update slated for release on November 9, 2026. Systems connected to the internet should download the update automatically, though users can also verify their version and trigger the update manually via System Settings.
Reader questions
Can I gift any game available on the Nintendo eShop?
Only products that Nintendo marks as eligible can be gifted; some games and content may be excluded.
Do I need a specific system version to use digital gifting?
Yes, the feature works on consoles with system version 23.5.0 or later, which will be released on Nov. 9, 2026.
Source: nintendo.com
