Buying a digital game for someone else is about to become easier on Nintendo consoles, provided that person belongs to your family group. Nintendo eShop gifting is coming to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in mid-November, bringing a feature that could make holiday shopping considerably simpler. However, there are restrictions worth understanding before you plan your first gift.
Nintendo has already released system update 23.5.0 for both consoles on November 9, 2026. Although the update prepares the necessary support, the actual gifting option will arrive through a separate Nintendo eShop update. That distinction matters because installing the latest system software does not immediately unlock digital gifts.
Nintendo eShop gifting will make family groups more useful
The biggest change is not simply the ability to purchase another digital game. Instead, Nintendo is introducing a direct way to buy eligible products for someone else without leaving the console’s storefront. Once the feature becomes available, players will be able to choose a family group member as the recipient during checkout.
According to Nintendo of America’s official announcement, supported purchases will include eligible games, downloadable content and upgrade packs. This gives the feature a wider purpose than gifting complete games alone. For example, an eligible upgrade pack could be a useful present for someone who already owns the corresponding game, although buyers should check product eligibility before purchasing.
Anyone with a Nintendo Account can establish a family group, which supports up to eight members in total. Nevertheless, this is not a general gifting system for every Nintendo friend. Recipients must belong to the buyer’s family group, making membership a central requirement rather than an optional convenience.
Nintendo eShop gifts can be sent directly from the console
Nintendo has outlined a straightforward purchase process. Rather than relying on a separate gift code, buyers will select the recipient and destination system as part of the transaction. There is also a small personalization element through gift wrapping options.
How to send a Nintendo eShop digital gift
- Step 1: Open Nintendo eShop on your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 and find the digital product you want to give.
- Step 2: Visit its product page, select the “Give as a Gift” checkbox and proceed with the purchase.
- Step 3: Choose the intended recipient from your Nintendo Account family group.
- Step 4: Select which of the recipient’s linked systems should receive the gift.
- Step 5: Choose a gift wrap color and any other available options.
- Step 6: Complete the purchase through the usual checkout process.
One detail deserves particular attention. Digital gifts are delivered immediately after purchase, so buyers should not expect to schedule delivery for a birthday or another special occasion. If you want the gift to remain a surprise, the safest approach is to complete the transaction when you are ready for the recipient to see it.
Receiving a gift should be equally simple. The purchased product will appear on the recipient’s HOME Menu, where they can select it, accept it and begin playing right away. This removes the need to exchange a separate redemption code.
Digital gifts come with restrictions and a regional launch window
While Nintendo is promoting digital gifts as a convenient option for the holiday season, not every account or product will qualify. Furthermore, the company has confirmed purchase limits without specifying an exact allowance.
Important restrictions and other changes in update 23.5.0
- Product eligibility: Some Nintendo eShop products may not support digital gifting.
- Family group requirement: Gifts can only be sent to members of the buyer’s Nintendo Account family group.
- Supervised accounts: Accounts under supervision cannot send digital gifts.
- Purchase limits: Nintendo restricts how many digital gift purchases can be made within a given period, but has not disclosed the exact limit.
- Nintendo Switch 2 accessibility: Accessibility settings can now be configured during the console’s initial setup.
- Portuguese language support: Portuguese (Portugal) has been added to the Switch 2 Text to Speech languages and GameChat’s Convert Text to Speech languages.
- General improvements: Both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 receive additional system adjustments and fixes.
There is also an important distinction between the announced launch dates. Nintendo of America says the gifting feature will be added to Nintendo eShop on November 16, 2026. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s system update notes schedule the related eShop update for November 17, 2026. The timing can vary by region, so these dates should be understood as a regional rollout window rather than a guarantee that every console will receive the feature simultaneously.
For players planning purchases around the holiday season, checking the storefront after the update becomes available will be more useful than assuming that system version 23.5.0 already includes an active gifting button.
Nintendo is reviving an old idea with a narrower audience
Digital gifting is not entirely new to Nintendo. During the Wii era, players could send WiiWare and Virtual Console games to friends through the Wii Shop Channel. That storefront eventually closed in 2019, leaving the older gifting system behind.
The upcoming feature brings back the basic idea of purchasing downloadable content for another player, but with a meaningful difference. Wii gifting was designed around friends, whereas the new system is restricted to family group members. As a result, it may be particularly useful for parents, children and relatives sharing a Nintendo Account family group, but less flexible for players hoping to surprise friends outside that circle.
The timing is also relevant for Nintendo Switch 2 owners. With more releases on the horizon, our Nintendo Switch 2 release calendar covering confirmed games through 2027 offers a useful overview of upcoming titles. However, appearing on that calendar does not mean a game will necessarily qualify for digital gifting.
Nintendo’s broader catalog also continues to attract attention, including the Ocarina of Time remake’s UK sales record. Even so, the new gifting feature should be judged by its actual product eligibility rather than assumptions about individual releases.
Ultimately, Nintendo eShop gifting could become a welcome convenience for households that regularly purchase digital games. Its success will depend on how many products support it and how restrictive the purchase limits prove to be. For now, the most useful preparation is to check family group membership, update your console and wait for the storefront rollout on November 16 or 17, depending on your region.
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
