The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 are finally getting a popular Steam feature after years of demand. However, this new addition to the Nintendo Switch family of consoles comes with a significant catch.
While consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo systems have all had their own popular features over the years, Steam has often introduced features that have left console gamers a bit envious. While this new option is technically a returning feature for Nintendo, it hasn’t been around since the late 2010s, while Steam has kept the feature since its inception.
Nintendo Switch is Getting Game Gifting, With a Catch
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Image via Nintendo -
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A new system update for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles has been released, and with it, a new game gifting feature has been announced. Game gifting will be added to both systems on November 17, which should help some players to easily procure gifts during the holiday season for friends and family members. However, unlike the game gifting feature on Steam, there is a significant caveat to Nintendo’s version of the feature. Users who want to send a gift to another person will need to be in the same Nintendo Account family group.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Some gamers will certainly be able to make good use of the new feature, like parents giving gifts to their kids who are already on their family account. However, it’s likely most Nintendo players won’t be able to make use of this new function due to the restrictions involved. While it’s arguably a step in the right direction for Nintendo, players may not be happy, especially as platforms like Steam have made it easier to gift games to users than ever. Earlier in 2026, Steam changed gift giving, making it possible for those who lack Steam accounts to still buy games off a user’s wishlist and gift it to them. Comparatively, Nintendo’s restrictions are extremely limiting.
Curiously enough, Nintendo and Steam originally debuted digital game gifting at nearly the exact same time, just about a week apart in December 2007. However, Nintendo didn’t carry the practice forward to later consoles, and the closure of the Wii Shop Channel in 2019 ended the practice entirely at the company, until now. However, the Wii version of gifting was far more flexible than what Nintendo is offering now, as players could purchase and gift a game via the Wii Shop Channel to anyone on their friend list.
While Nintendo hasn’t offered an official explanation for the restrictions on game gifting, it follows a general pattern for the company in recent years. Since the Wii and DS era, Nintendo has gradually moved away from features that are common on other systems, like the ability to send direct messages. Some of its decisions are likely made in an effort to protect children, as limiting the ability to communicate with others reduces the risk of illicit activity like grooming that gaming platforms like Roblox have faced. The ability to voice and video chat with others on the Switch 2 has moved Nintendo closer to a standard online gaming experience, but it seems likely to continue taking precautions going forward.
