Nintendo adds eShop game gifting in firmware 23.5.0
The update, launching November 16, lets family group members send digital games to each other on Switch and Switch 2, according to Kotaku.
Nintendo will add the ability to gift digital games through the Nintendo eShop with firmware update 23.5.0, which launches on November 16, according to Kotaku. The feature works on both the original Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2.
Gifting is restricted to members of the same family group. Once the feature is active, a checkbox appears on a game's eShop store page that allows the title to be given as a gift. The buyer then selects a family member as the recipient and chooses from eight colors of digital wrapping paper.
Supervised accounts inside a family group cannot gift games. Nintendo also limits how many games can be purchased and gifted within an unspecified period, and notes that some titles may not be available for gifting at all.
Gifted games are delivered to the receiving player immediately after purchase.
Console gifting remains limited
On consoles, Microsoft's Xbox is currently the only platform that lets players gift digital games, while Steam and many PC storefronts have supported sending games to friends for at least a decade.
Quick answers
When does Nintendo Switch game gifting launch?
Firmware update 23.5.0 launches on November 16 and adds digital game gifting through the Nintendo eShop.
Who can receive a gifted game on Nintendo Switch?
Only members of the same family group can receive gifted games. Supervised accounts in a family group cannot send gifts.
Does game gifting work on the original Switch?
Yes. The feature is available on both the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2.