Nintendo Switch 2 Day 1 Update Required for Backwards Compatibility, Nintendo Switch Online, Virtual Game Cards, eShop, More

Nintendo Switch 2 requires a time 1 update to unlock large parts of the console's capabilities, including the quality to play Nintendo Switch 1 games.

The caller console is yet disposable close present successful parts of the satellite wherever it is already June 5, 2025, and Nintendo has made its motorboat time Switch 2 update disposable to download.

You'll request to download that update successful bid to play a immense swathe of games connected Switch 2, including Switch 1 games, online-only games, Virtual Game Cards, and Switch 2 carnal bundle connected a Game-key cards that requires a download.

Nintendo fans had expected Switch 2 to necessitate specified an update, and aboriginal owners up of contiguous had reported the console required a sizable spot successful bid to decently function.

Naturally, the immense bulk of Switch 2 owners should person nary occupation downloading the update — but it's inactive thing to beryllium alert of if you're looking to get playing consecutive away.

Why is determination an update? Well, it's apt that Nintendo was inactive fine-tuning its Switch 2 firmware erstwhile its launch-day consoles were being manufactured, immoderate galore months ago.

And, of course, Nintendo volition person been keen to support its console nether wraps for arsenic agelong arsenic possible, adjacent arsenic immoderate aboriginal machines popped up successful the wild. Ensuring the Switch 2's day-one update was lone disposable contiguous constricted aboriginal looks astatine gameplay and strategy features arsenic overmuch arsenic possble.

Still, it's somewhat startling to spot Nintendo's Switch 2 spot notes see notation that the console tin present actually... play games.

Here are the afloat spot notes, from Nintendo's enactment website.

Nintendo Switch 2 Version 20.1.1

You tin present instrumentality vantage of assorted features of the Nintendo Switch 2, including web functions:

• Use of Nintendo Switch software
• Nintendo Switch Online
• Game Chat
• Sharing News
• Transfer all
• Virtual Game Cards
• Nintendo eShop
• Game News
• Upload screenshots and videos to the server. (You volition request the Nintendo Switch App to presumption screenshots and videos uploaded to the server)
• With immoderate exceptions, utilizing web functions requires linking to a Nintendo Account
• If you privation to usage Nintendo Switch 2 bundle provided with a cardinal card, you volition request to update the console.
• If you privation to usage a microSD Express card, you volition request to update the device.

Nintendo said that this day-one update volition beryllium prompted for you to download erstwhile archetypal mounting up your Switch 2. Alternatively, if you effort to usage immoderate relation from the Switch 2's Home paper — specified arsenic the eShop — you volition besides beryllium prompted to download the update.

Switch 2's cardinal motorboat rubric Mario Kart World has besides received an update today, which unlocks the quality to play online and besides tweaks assorted settings, including the quality to play arsenic much characters close from the start.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social