Nintendo just pushed out Switch update 20.0.0, and yes, it’s more than your usual snooze-fest “stability improvements.” The headline: Virtual Game Cards now turn your downloads into digital collectibles, even letting you lend out games (no sticky fingers, PIN required). There’s a GameShare feature for local multiplayer and tools to batch-transfer saves—a godsend for anyone eyeing Switch 2. Menus get snazzier, too. Wondering how it all ties into Nintendo’s next move? Stick around for the details.
While fans might have expected Nintendo to quietly cruise toward the Switch 2 launch, the company instead dropped a surprisingly robust system update—Ver. 20.0.0—for the original Switch on April 29, 2025.
Instead of the usual stability tweaks, this update actually packs in features that seem to prep old hardware for the next generation, with a few tricks that no one saw coming. The update also introduces the ability to transfer save data in batches, making the upgrade process to Switch 2 much more streamlined and user-friendly.
The headline here? Virtual Game Cards. Now, instead of just scrolling a digital library, players see their purchased games as collectible-style cards, and—get this—they can even lend digital titles to family members within their Nintendo Account group.
Lending is controlled by PINs or account logins, so no, you can’t just “accidentally” loan your rare RPG to a random friend. The system works across two linked Switch consoles, which is perfect for families split between Switch 1 and the upcoming Switch 2.
GameShare is another new arrival, letting players share certain games for local wireless play between Switch 1 and Switch 2.
Here’s the catch: the Switch 2 has to start the sharing, so original Switch owners can’t just swap games between their aging units. This feature is obviously Nintendo’s way of nudging players toward multiplayer sessions—and maybe, just maybe, toward buying that Switch 2 sooner rather than later.
Transfers are getting a glow-up too. The update adds tools to batch-move save data and other content to Switch 2, all protected by the new user-verification settings. Nintendo also announced that GameCube games are coming soon to the Nintendo Switch 2 system, expanding the classics library for fans of retro titles.
The “Transfer Your Saved Data” menu now feels a lot less like homework and more like a streamlined checklist, which should make moving consoles less of a headache.
Visually, the update spruces up the eShop and News icons and adds new shortcuts for the Virtual Game Card and GameShare features.
The menus have been shuffled around to line up with Switch 2’s style, because apparently, it’s never too early for a wardrobe change.
In short, it’s Nintendo’s way of saying, “We’re not done with the original Switch just yet”—and if you’re eyeing a Switch 2, this update makes that shift a bit less intimidating.