Key Takeaways
- Nintendo has released system update 23.5.0 for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles.
- The update prepares both systems for a new digital gifting feature coming to Nintendo eShop in November 2026.
- Family group members will be able to gift eligible digital games, DLC, and upgrade packs to one another.
- Nintendo Account family groups can include up to eight members, although supervised accounts cannot send digital gifts.
- Switch 2 also receives additional accessibility improvements, including Portuguese (Portugal) text-to-speech support and accessibility options during initial setup.
Nintendo has released a new system update for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, bringing both consoles up to firmware version 23.5.0. While this isn’t one of those major updates that completely changes the console experience, it introduces support for a feature that should make the upcoming holiday season a little more convenient for Nintendo families.
The biggest addition is support for digital game gifting between members of a Nintendo Account family group. The feature will allow users to purchase eligible Nintendo eShop products and send them directly to another member of their group, including games, downloadable content, and upgrade packs.
However, the feature isn’t available immediately after installing the update. Nintendo has scheduled a separate Nintendo eShop update for November 17, 2026, to activate digital gifting in regions using that rollout date. Nintendo’s North American announcement lists November 16 instead, reflecting a regional difference in the scheduled release.
Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Update 23.5.0 Adds Digital Game Gifting Support
The main reason to download firmware version 23.5.0 is to prepare your console for Nintendo’s upcoming digital gifting feature. According to the official patch notes, both the original Nintendo Switch family and Switch 2 now support the functionality required to send eShop products to members of a Nintendo Account family group.
This is a welcome addition, especially for households where multiple people have their own Nintendo Accounts. Until now, buying a digital game for someone else through Nintendo eShop hasn’t been as straightforward as purchasing a physical copy and wrapping it up as a present.
With the upcoming feature, users will be able to purchase eligible digital products directly through Nintendo eShop and select another family group member as the recipient. The supported products include digital games, DLC, and upgrade packs.
Nintendo has also reminded users that setting up a family group is relatively simple. Anyone with a Nintendo Account can create one and invite other members, with a maximum of eight accounts in a single group.
The publisher introduced the feature just ahead of the holiday season, making it easier for parents and other family members to purchase digital games for someone without having to share their own account details.
You can find the complete announcement and instructions in Nintendo’s official digital game gifting announcement.
How Nintendo Switch Digital Game Gifting Will Work
Nintendo has already provided some details about how the new gifting system will work once the eShop update goes live.
Rather than using a separate website or purchasing gift codes, users will be able to complete the process directly through Nintendo eShop on their Switch or Switch 2 console.
Here’s how the process will work:
- Open Nintendo eShop on your Nintendo Switch or Switch 2.
- Find the eligible digital game or other product you want to purchase.
- Select the “Give as a Gift” checkbox on the product page before proceeding to checkout.
- Choose the recipient from the list of members in your Nintendo Account family group.
- Select which of the recipient’s linked systems should receive the gift.
- Choose the available gift-wrapping colour and other options before completing the purchase.
Once the purchase is completed, Nintendo will immediately send the gift to the selected recipient. The gift will appear on their console’s HOME Menu, where they can select and accept it before playing.
There is one important detail here: gifts are delivered immediately. Nintendo specifically advises buyers to make sure they are ready before completing the purchase, as the system isn’t designed around scheduling a gift for a later date.
There Are Some Restrictions on Nintendo’s New Gifting Feature
Although the feature sounds useful, Nintendo has confirmed that not every digital product will necessarily be available for gifting.
The company has outlined a few restrictions that players should understand before using the new system. Some Nintendo eShop products may not qualify for digital gifting, meaning users will need to check whether the gift option appears on the product’s store page.
Supervised accounts also cannot send digital gifts. This is particularly relevant for families with child accounts, although Nintendo’s announcement specifically restricts sending gifts rather than stating that supervised accounts cannot receive them.
Additionally, Nintendo will limit the number of digital gift purchases users can make during a given period. The company has not published a specific purchase allowance in its announcement, so players will have to wait for further details about the limits.
These restrictions mean the system won’t function as a completely unrestricted digital gift marketplace. Even so, allowing eligible games and additional content to be shared between family group members is a useful improvement over the previous purchasing experience.
Switch 2 Gets Additional Accessibility Improvements in Version 23.5.0
Digital gifting isn’t the only addition included in the latest firmware update. Nintendo Switch 2 owners are also receiving several accessibility improvements that aren’t listed for the original Switch.
One notable addition is the ability to configure accessibility settings during the console’s first-time setup process. This should make the initial experience more convenient for people who rely on supported accessibility features, allowing them to configure relevant options without having to wait until the entire setup process is finished.
Nintendo has also added Portuguese (Portugal) to the available Text to Speech languages in the Accessibility section of System Settings.
The same language has been added to GameChat’s Convert Text to Speech options. This gives Portuguese-speaking users additional accessibility support when communicating through Nintendo’s built-in social features.
These improvements are exclusive to the Switch 2 portion of the version 23.5.0 update. Owners of the original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED receive the gifting preparation and general system adjustments instead.
Full Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Version 23.5.0 Patch Notes
Here is the complete list of changes Nintendo has outlined for both consoles.
Nintendo Switch 2 Version 23.5.0
- Added the ability to configure accessibility settings during first-time setup.
- Added support for an upcoming feature that allows Nintendo eShop products to be gifted to Nintendo Account family group members.
- The digital gifting feature will become available following the scheduled Nintendo eShop update in November 2026. Nintendo’s regional support information lists November 17.
- Added Portuguese (Portugal) to the Text to Speech languages in Accessibility settings.
- Added Portuguese (Portugal) to the GameChat Convert Text to Speech languages.
- General adjustments and fixes were made to improve the user experience.
Original Nintendo Switch Version 23.5.0
- Added support for an upcoming feature that allows Nintendo eShop products to be gifted to Nintendo Account family group members.
- The digital gifting feature will become available following the scheduled Nintendo eShop update in November 2026.
- General adjustments and fixes were made to improve the user experience.
How to Download Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Update 23.5.0
The latest firmware is already available, and Nintendo says consoles connected to the internet will generally download system updates automatically.
However, players who haven’t received the update can manually check for it by following these steps:
- Open System Settings from the console’s HOME Menu.
- Scroll down and select the System option.
- Select System Update.
- Your console will check for an available update and begin downloading it when one is found.
Once installation is complete, you should see version 23.5.0 listed as your current system version.
Nintendo Is Bringing Back a Useful Feature Ahead of the Holidays
Interestingly, digital game gifting isn’t an entirely new concept for Nintendo. The publisher previously offered a gifting option on the Wii through the Wii Shop Channel, allowing users to send WiiWare and Virtual Console games to people on their Wii Friend List.
That older system was considerably less restrictive in terms of who could receive gifts, as it wasn’t limited to members of a Nintendo Account family group. However, the functionality disappeared when Nintendo closed the Wii Shop Channel in 2019.
The upcoming Switch and Switch 2 feature doesn’t fully recreate that older experience, but it does bring back an option that many Nintendo users have wanted for years.
With the holiday shopping season approaching, the timing makes sense. Parents will have a more convenient way to purchase digital games for their children, while other family members can send eligible games and additional content without relying on physical gift cards.
Version 23.5.0 is mostly a preparation update, so the real test will begin when Nintendo activates gifting through its eShop maintenance. Still, it’s a welcome quality-of-life improvement for both console generations and one that should make buying digital games for family members considerably easier.
For more Nintendo and gaming news, check out our coverage of Big Walk developer House House confirming its limited use of generative AI, God of War Ragnarok becoming PlayStation’s highest-grossing game, and the Mass Effect voice cast’s N7 Day campaign.
