Notice to Nintendo Switch players, an important update has just been deployed and you can download it now. She adds a lot of things, including new expected new features that prepare the ground for the Nintendo Switch 2.
A few weeks before the release of Nintendo Switch 2 which will be available from the June 5, 2025an important update has just been deployed for the system of the first console. If it is not uncommon to see the user interface to be updated, such an update remains quite exceptional. Nintendo prepares the terrain and optimizes its ecosystem before the arrival of its new machine which will obviously be grafted for the whole. On the menu of this big patch, we can note the arrival of several features including the famous virtual cardspraised during a recent direct Nintendo, but also a whole bunch of other additions. We go around the new features.
A big update for the entire Nintendo Switch system
The major addition of this new update is obviously the arrival of Virtual game cardsa fairly vague feature, but of which Nintendo seems so proud. It allows digital game owners to use their software as physical games. All the games purchased in dematerialized will now be transformed into virtual and arranged game cards in a dedicated library accessible via the Home menu. In this menu, you can load the games on your console, or other machines on the fly.
This will also allow you to lend your games to other users in a few clicks for a limited time. The only downside, it is impossible to duplicate them. If you lend a digital game to one of your loved ones, you will not be able to play it yourself, it will have to return it to you. It’s very curious says like that, but it works exactly as if you lend physical games.
Added to this is the Gamesharea feature dedicated to the Nintendo Switch 2 which allows you to share your games live via the local wireless mode so that you can play together without the need for several games. Nintendo Switch 1 consoles can only receive, but not emit.
Official patch notes
- Virtual game cards
- Digital version software, downloadable and free software content that you have downloaded now work as virtual game cards, the list of which is displayed in this menu.
- You can load and eject your virtual game cards on two consoles associated as much as possible.
- You can lend your virtual game cards to other members of the family group in your Nintendo account.
- GameShare
- From a Nintendo Switch 2 console, it is possible to share software with other nearby consoles to play together.
- You can only play in this way using the local wireless communication of a Nintendo Switch 2 console.
- This feature cannot be used between several Nintendo Switch consoles.
Other features arrive including the data transfer for Switch 2
Other features such as new security parameters linked to virtual gaming cards for still the management of online licenses have been added. But the other major interest in this update is undoubtedly the Data transfer to the Nintendo Switch 2. So yes, the machine is not yet available, but at least everything is ready to welcome it. Thanks to this menu, you can migrate all the contents of your Nintendo Switch to your new console. Obviously, do not have fun launching anything without having your new console in your hands, you never know. Finally, we note the design change of some user icons.
Official patch notes for data transfer
- The option Data transfer Towards a Nintendo Switch 2 console was added in console> console settings.
- You can transfer data from your Nintendo Switch console to a Nintendo Switch 2 console using local wireless communication.
- If you will lose access to your Nintendo Switch console before having your Nintendo Switch 2 console, you can save your data on a dedicated server, from where you can then transfer it to your Nintendo Switch 2 console. Once you have saved your data on the dedicated server, your Nintendo Switch console will be reset, then do This operation only if you are sure to be able to transfer your data to a Nintendo Switch 2 console.
- If you want to continue using your Nintendo Switch console, we recommend that you wait until you have a Nintendo Switch 2 console before carrying out data transfer via local wireless communication.
- An internet connection and a Nintendo account are required to carry out data transfer.
Official patch notes for the rest of the news
- The section Identity verification parameters was added in User> User settings.
- You can restrict access to the menu of Virtual game cards By requesting a secret code or a connection to your Nintendo account.
- The section Online licenses parameters was added.
- When this option is activated, you can use the downloaded software and the downloadable content that you have purchased provided that the console is connected to the Internet, even if the virtual gaming card is not loaded.
- For more information, see the information available on the screen of console parameters.
- In the Home menu, the Nintendo Eshop icon and that of the news changed color.
- It is now possible to select and transfer several files both in the “Transfer backup data” menu.
- The appearance of certain user icons has been updated.
Source : Nintendo
