With simply over a month to go earlier than the Nintendo Switch 2 launch date on June fifth, Nintendo has launched a Switch 1 replace that can assist put together issues for the brand new console’s arrival. The V20.0.0 replace for the unique Switch provides a bunch of recent options that go together with the Switch 2, like Home menu buttons for the Virtual Game Card and GameShare options that had been introduced earlier this month, and a brand new system switch characteristic that may retailer your information within the cloud till you’re able to put it on a Switch 2 — simply be sure to learn the directions carefully earlier than attempting it.
You received’t be capable to use the GameShare characteristic but, as sharing can solely begin from a Switch 2 system over native wi-fi connections — attempting to do it between two Switch 1 programs received’t work.
You can try the brand new Virtual Game Cards that acquire digital software program and DLC so that you can “load” and “eject” between two totally different programs, and lend video games to others in your Nintendo Account household group. If you lend a recreation to another person, then you possibly can pull it again whereas they’re on-line even when they’re at present taking part in, but when they go offline with out returning it or coming again on-line, you’ll want to attend till the top of the two-week lending interval for it to be returned to your library routinely.
Nintendo’s Virtual Game Card Guide explains the entire ins and outs of the brand new lending system, like how every Switch can solely be related to 1 different Switch at a time, handle your recreation playing cards from the net, and conceal (or unhide) sure playing cards.
To use digital video games throughout extra than simply two programs or with out these restrictions, Nintendo is now counting on the Online License Settings, that are additionally being added to your Switch 1 on this replace. If it’s turned on, it’ll permit the consumer to play any of their digitally bought video games and DLC so long as they’re related to the web, with out counting on digital recreation playing cards.
But in the event you’ve already determined to improve, then your first cease is perhaps the brand new possibility for “System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2” beneath the System menu in System Settings. While it may be used for an area system-to-system switch as soon as your new console arrives, there’s additionally an choice to add system switch information to the cloud now, the place it is going to be able to obtain to a Switch 2 with out requiring entry to your outdated system.
While that is perhaps good for somebody passing their Switch 1 off to another person, the draw back is that it’s going to manufacturing facility reset your Switch 1, so it’s higher to attend if potential, and it’ll solely be saved for a yr if not downloaded. Another wrinkle is that it’s potential to arrange a Switch 2 cloud switch, then cancel it and produce your information again to a Switch 1. However, as Nintendo’s system switch FAQ explains, whereas it doesn’t should be the identical Switch 1 you began with, if it began on a Switch OLED, you’ll solely be capable to cancel and reload your information on one other Switch OLED.
