Nintendo is adding digital game gifting to the Switch and Switch 2 eShop on November 16 in the US. There is a very Nintendo-shaped catch: you can only send gifts to members of your Nintendo Account family group, rather than anyone on your friends list.
The feature covers eligible games, DLC and upgrade packs purchased through Nintendo eShop on the console. A family group can contain up to eight Nintendo Accounts, so this is aimed at sharing purchases within an existing group rather than turning the eShop into an open gift shop. Nintendo says some products will not be eligible, supervised accounts cannot send gifts, and there will be a limit on gift purchases within a given period.
Sending one starts on the product page. Tick Give as a Gift, choose a recipient from the family group, select which of their linked systems should receive it, and pick a wrapping color before completing the purchase. The gift then appears on the recipient’s HOME Menu, where they can accept it and start playing.
Nintendo says gifts are delivered immediately, so buying a birthday or holiday present early also means revealing it early. There is no scheduled delivery option described in the announcement. That makes this more useful for sending something on the day than quietly preparing a surprise weeks ahead.
Both consoles need system version 23.5.0 or later. That update arrived November 9, but installing it does not bring gifting forward: the US feature launch is still November 16. This is another addition to the account and sharing features surrounding the Switch 2 rollout, and it works on the original Switch too. Digital gifting is useful, even with the family-group restriction. Just check the recipient before buying, and remember that the wrapping paper does not come with a timer.
Source: Nintendo
