Nintendo is adding digital gifting to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on November 16, so members of a Nintendo Account family group can buy games for each other. Nintendo of America announced the feature on November 9, the same day it released system update 23.5.0, which the feature needs.
How Gifting Works
Gifts can only go to members of your own family group. Anyone with a Nintendo Account can set one up and add members, up to eight in total. You can gift eligible games, DLC and upgrade packs that you buy through the eShop on your system.
Nintendo’s steps for sending one:
- Open the eShop on your system and find the game.
- Select the “Give as a Gift” checkbox on the product page, then go to purchase.
- Pick the family group member, then which of their linked systems should get it.
- Choose a gift wrap color and any other options, and pay as usual.
Nintendo stresses that a gift is sent to the recipient immediately. It shows up on their HOME Menu, where they can accept it and start playing right away.
There are three limits. Some products may not be eligible, supervised accounts (the child accounts a parent or guardian manages) cannot send gifts, and the number of gift purchases allowed in a given period is capped. Nintendo has not said what the cap is or which games are left out.
The Update You Need
Gifting works only on systems running version 23.5.0 or later. Nintendo’s update notes for both Switch 2 and Switch list 23.5.0 as released November 9, with “support for an upcoming feature to allow gifting of Nintendo eShop products to a Nintendo Account family group member.” Those notes say gifting switches on with an eShop update scheduled for November 17, while Nintendo of America’s announcement gives November 16.
The update downloads by itself on a system connected to the internet, or you can check your version and start it from System Settings.
What This Means for Players
This is narrower than gifting a game to any friend. A present for someone outside your household means inviting them into your family group first, and a group tops out at eight people.
The timing lines up with holiday shopping. If you are picking a gift, our best Switch 2 games of 2026 and best Switch 2 co-op games lists are a good place to start, and our Switch 2 buying guide covers the console itself. Nintendo’s steps include no way to schedule delivery, so a gift meant for a particular morning has to be bought that morning.
For more Nintendo news, see the eShop’s Philippines launch date and Switch 2 sales passing 26 million units.
Source: Nintendo of America, “Coming soon: Gift digital games to family group members”, November 9, 2026, and Nintendo’s system update notes for Switch 2 and Switch.