Nintendo Just Turned the Switch Into a Game-Sharing Machine

Nintendo’s always done things its way. From the NES’s zapper to the Wii’s motion controls, the company rarely chases trends—instead, it makes up its own rules and watches the industry scramble to follow. The Switch, launched back in 2017, followed that playbook perfectly: a hybrid console that somehow became both a handheld king and a couch co-op legend. And now, just weeks before the Switch 2 lands, Nintendo has dropped firmware 20.0.0, and it’s kind of a banger.

Let’s talk about the two headline features first: Virtual Game Cards and Game Share. This update isn’t just bug fixes and prettier menus (though yeah, there’s a little of that too). It’s a big swing at digital game ownership, multiplayer access, and console continuity—all core Nintendo quirks that are getting a fresh coat of paint.

“Purchased Nintendo Switch digital software, DLC, and some free software are now virtual game cards and displayed in a list in this menu.”

This new “Virtual Game Card” system turns your digital library into a flexible, shareable pool. Up to now, sharing a game usually meant lending a cartridge or awkwardly swapping accounts. Not anymore. You can virtually load and unload your titles between two systems, and—if you're in a family group—loan a digital game to someone else. Yep, loan, like it’s 2001 and you’re handing your GBA to a friend in homeroom.

It gets better: Game Share lets a Switch 2 initiate a local wireless connection so nearby players can play the same game together, even if they don’t own it. It’s a callback to the DS days of Download Play, except now the stakes are higher and the games way more complex.

“Compatible software can be shared from a Nintendo Switch 2 system to other nearby system(s) to play together.”

Of course, there are limitations. You need at least one Switch 2 in the mix to make this work, and no, your trusty OLED Switch won’t cut it for this particular feature. But for anyone picking up the new console in June, it’s going to be a great way to do spontaneous co-op without syncing accounts or downloading separate copies.

Beyond game sharing, update 20.0.0 is clearly laying the groundwork for Switch 2 migration. System transfers are getting smoother, with an option to upload your data to a Nintendo server if you're temporarily losing access to your current Switch.

“There is an option to upload system transfer data to a dedicated server, which can then be retrieved on their Nintendo Switch 2.”

That’s a pretty big quality-of-life update, especially considering how painful Nintendo migrations have been in the past. Anyone who remembers moving Wii Shop Channel games—or trying to get your 3DS eShop purchases to stick—knows the struggle.

Meanwhile, Nintendo also updated a few aesthetics: the eShop and News icons got new color palettes, some user icons got refreshed, and there’s better multi-save data management. It’s not exactly groundbreaking, but it gives the UI a little more personality. That’s classic Nintendo: small visual tweaks that feel friendlier than a full overhaul.

Nintendo’s Identity, One Console at a Time

It’s easy to shrug off updates like these, but they tap into something very Nintendo. This is the same company that introduced the GameCube’s mini-discs and the DS’s second screen. The Wii had motion sensors before it was cool. The 3DS had 3D without glasses. Even the Wii U (RIP) set the stage for the Switch’s hybrid form factor.

What makes the Switch unique is that it is the summation of every weird Nintendo idea that came before it. Portability from the Game Boy line, wireless ad-hoc play from the DS, local motion chaos from the Wii, and even a focus on family grouping from the Wii U era.

Now with this update, Nintendo is reinforcing its biggest strengths:

• Local play without friction
• Digital ownership that still feels physical
• A seamless bridge between console generations

This isn’t just forward compatibility; it’s Nintendo making sure your digital library grows with you, without locking you into one console or one account.

A Smart Update That Looks Toward the Future

This is Nintendo at its best: adding real utility through firmware and setting the stage for a next-gen console without demanding anyone leave their old hardware behind. Is it perfect? No. GameShare requiring a Switch 2 kind of gates the fun. But it’s a clear signal that Nintendo’s next-gen vision is inclusive—bring your games, your saves, your weird user icons.

If this is what we’re getting before June 5, the Switch 2 might actually have a better launch ecosystem than most consoles manage a year in.

So yeah, maybe it’s time to boot up your Switch again. Not just to prep for Mario Kart World, but to try out the kind of features that make Nintendo’s ecosystem feel uniquely theirs.

Want a full list of patch notes? They’re worth skimming—especially if you’re into game sharing, account management, or just love a cleaner home menu.