Nintendo Switch 2 users will need a day one update to access multiple features.
Nintendo Switch 2 users take note: you’ll need to download a day one update to unlock multiple features in the console, including backwards compatibility, online access, and downloadable games from Game-key cards. Essentially, all of the console’s main online features will be inaccessible until the day one update is installed.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has also launched in most regions today (5 June, 2025).
Nintendo Switch 2 requires day one update to unlock multiple features
Nintendo has released a day one software update for the Nintendo Switch 2, as the console has launched in many regions today (5 June, 2025). This update won’t be optional for many users, as they’ll need to install it in order to unlock backwards compatibility, online game access, Virtual Game Card usage, and Game-key card usage.
Here’s the full list of unlocked features, courtesy of Nintendo’s 5 June patch notes (Ver. 20.1.1) for the Nintendo Switch 2:
- Use of compatible Nintendo Switch software
- Nintendo Switch Online
- GameChat
- GameShare
- System transfer from Nintendo Switch
- Virtual game cards
- Nintendo eShop
- News
- Upload of screenshots and videos to the server
- Nintendo Switch App on a smart device is needed to view and download screenshots and videos uploaded to the server
- Link with the smart device apps Nintendo Switch Parental Controls and Nintendo Switch App
This update's contents might not come as a surprise to most console owners, seeing as many consoles require a day one update to unlock online capabilities. Nintendo is not an outlier in this regard, but it’s important to note that this update won’t be optional for users this week–seeing as the Nintendo Switch 2 console is finally out in the wild.
