The Nintendo Switch family of consoles has received its first system update of 2026. The last major update for the system landed in early December 2025, marking this as the first Switch update of the new year.
2026 will be an eventful year for Nintendo, if its major anniversaries are any indication. In 2026, Zelda and Metroid will turn 40, Pokemon will turn 30, and Animal Crossing will be 25 years old, among others. It’s a major anniversary for many of its consoles, as well; the Nintendo 3DS’ 15th anniversary, the Game Boy Advance and GameCube’s 25th anniversary, and Nintendo 64’s 30th anniversary are all in 2026. While celebrations and new announcements are likely to be revealed for many of these in the months to come, keeping the current line-up of systems running smoothly is an important part of keeping gamers happy.
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Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Get January 2026 System Update
On January 12, Nintendo issued system updates for both the original Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. This update brings both systems to version 21.2.0, and should serve to make the experience of gaming on the Nintendo consoles smoother. However, Nintendo didn’t reveal many details about what went into the update, simply stating that both versions of the system have received general system stability improvements. In that regard, the update is similar to the last update the Switch consoles received in 2025.
Getting the updates should be a simple process for both Switch and Switch 2 users. If the system is left in standby mode with a connection to the internet, the update will download automatically. In the event that it hasn’t updated, users can manually do so by accessing the System Settings menu from the home screen and selecting “System Update” under the “System” sub-menu. If the update doesn’t download or install correctly, Switch owners should try restarting their consoles.
What’s Happening With the Nintendo Switch in 2026?
Though this update isn’t the most exciting thing to land on the Switch, it should help to pave the way for a smooth launch of a number of games landing this year. Switch 2 owners are currently looking forward to games from Nintendo like Pokemon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, to name a few. The Switch 2 is also getting a number of third-party games at launch, like Resident Evil Requiem, giving Switch 2 owners more to enjoy in the first half of 2026. However, there could be a lot more on the way.
A recent leak indicates that the first major Nintendo Direct of 2026 is likely to land on February 10. The direct will likely focus on upcoming games in the first half of the year for the Nintendo Switch 2, but one surprise supposedly in store is a new 3D Super Mario game. The event has been described as “huge,” so if the rumors turn out to be true, there should be a lot to get hyped up about in less than a month.
An early February Nintendo Direct will likely be received well by fans, considering what happened in 2025. With the Nintendo Switch 2 then on the horizon, players anxiously awaited a Nintendo Direct in the first couple of months of the year, but didn’t get one focusing on the new console and Nintendo’s upcoming games until almost April. With no new console to show off this time around, there should be plenty of focus on games. However, Nintendo may also talk about things like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which releases in theaters in April. For now, though, players will have to wait for official confirmation of the first Nintendo Direct.
