Nintendo released firmware update v23.5.0 for Switch and Switch 2 on Nov. 9, adding support for digital software gifting through the eShop ahead of a Nov. 16 launch. The update does not turn the store into a full gift registry, but it does lay the groundwork for a new way to buy software for someone else.
That matters now because the feature is arriving right as holiday shopping starts to heat up, and Nintendo is putting it into the system before the actual launch date. Once it goes live, a buyer will be able to check the Give as a Gift box when purchasing digital software, choose a recipient, pick a wrapping color and finish the purchase. The gift is then sent immediately, unlike on Steam, where scheduling is possible.
The limits are tighter than the headline might suggest. Supervised accounts cannot use the system, and gifts can only go to people inside a family group, even if someone is already a Switch friend. Nintendo family groups can hold up to eight members, which means the new feature is built for a small circle rather than broad sharing.
That restriction leaves the most practical use case in place, but not much beyond it. Nintendo regularly rolls out updates for Switch and Switch 2, and patch notes usually focus on system stability. This one is different because it adds a consumer-facing feature instead of another quiet maintenance pass.
What remains unclear is how often a user will be allowed to send gifts within the time period Nintendo has set. The company has not spelled out that limit, and for now the only fixed date is Nov. 16, when the eShop gifting feature is scheduled to go live.
