Nintendo releases game sharing feature on the Switch - and prepares the ground for the Switch 2

A few months before the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, scheduled for June 5, 2025, Nintendo has released the update 20.0.0 for the Nintendo Switch (original model), bringing new features that connect generations in a practical and technical way.

The main novelty is the introduction of Virtual Game Cards, which allow you to temporarily lend digital games between accounts. The new Game Share function also stands out: it allows you to share local games with other Switch consoles connected to the same Wi-Fi network, without the need for extra login, ideal for home multiplayer sessions.

Another relevant feature is the simplified transfer of settings and accounts from Switch 1 to Switch 2, including profile data, settings, saves, and digital libraries, facilitating the migration to the new hardware in the middle of the year.

In addition, the interface has received discreet visual adjustments, such as the color change of the icons in the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch News, signaling a visual modernization to align with the upcoming system.

Nintendo had already indicated that the next console would maintain compatibility with the current generation, and this update confirms that intention. There is still no confirmation about full backward compatibility, but the support for accounts, saves, and shared functions strengthens this hypothesis.

With the arrival of the Switch 2, Nintendo is expected to maintain cross-support for some time. The company has shown caution in the transition between generations — as happened in the migration from Wii U to Switch, when some digital content was adapted over the following years.

This update represents more than technical improvements: it is a milestone of transition between generations, focusing on accessibility, continuity, and ecosystem expansion.