Nintendo Switch has received a firmware update today, version 20.0.0. This update brings several new features to the system and prepares the console for the upcoming launch of Switch 2. Some of the changes are directly related to the new machine that will soon hit the market.
You can find full details about how to perform the update and its contents on Nintendo’s official website. The update brings many interesting improvements, including both behind-the-scenes adjustments and visible new features.
What’s New in the Firmware 20.0.0 Update
There are some smaller, visible changes in the system interface. For example, the icons for the Nintendo eShop and News in the HOME menu have been updated with new colors. Additionally, the term “primary console” has been changed to “pass-enabled console,” reflecting the upcoming virtual game cards.
The update also brings several new features to Nintendo Switch:
- Virtual Game Cards
- GameShare
- System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2
- User-Verification Settings
- Online License Settings
Virtual Game Cards now have their own specific menu. Purchased games, DLCs, and some free titles work like virtual game cards and will appear in this list, allowing them to be loaded and ejected on up to two linked consoles. These virtual game cards can be shared with other users within the same Nintendo account family.
GameShare is a system that lets players share games between a Nintendo Switch 2 console and nearby consoles for local multiplayer gaming using WiFi. It requires one console to be the main one, and the other to be the receiver.
User-Verification Settings and Online License Settings are new options for managing game titles. The first allows you to secure access to virtual game cards, while the second lets you play purchased software and DLCs without needing the virtual game card if the console is connected to the internet.
The System Transfer feature allows users to transfer their accounts, settings, games, and save data from the Nintendo Switch to the Switch 2 using a local Wi-Fi connection between the two consoles. This can be activated in System Settings > System.
Remember, the official release of Nintendo Switch 2 is set for June 5, 2025.
