Nintendo has rolled out a new firmware update for the Switch, setting the stage for the upcoming Switch 2 launch.
According to the official patch notes on Nintendo's website, the Nintendo Switch Firmware Update Version 20.0.0 introduces several important changes to the eight-year-old console in preparation for its successor, the Switch 2, scheduled to arrive in June.
A key addition is the System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 feature, now accessible in System Settings. This allows you to transfer data from your current Switch to the Switch 2 via a local wireless connection.
For those who may lose access to their original Switch before obtaining a Switch 2, an alternative option lets you upload your system transfer data to a dedicated server. You can then retrieve this data on your new Switch 2 console.
It's important to note that once you upload your data, your original Switch will be reset to factory settings. Nintendo advises only using this server transfer method if you are certain you will be able to complete the process on your new console. Otherwise, it's recommended to perform the transfer locally after you have your Switch 2.
Some Switch owners planning to sell or trade in their original console for a Switch 2 have welcomed this system. It means they don't have to hold onto their old device to complete the transfer. However, others have questioned why a factory reset is necessary and expressed concerns about the potential risks of storing their data on Nintendo's server.
The update also refreshes the look of several user icons, as the community has already discovered. Notably, Donkey Kong's icon now features the new design from the upcoming Switch 2 exclusives, Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World.
Some Icon Redesigns in the new Switch Update
byu/thetripp45 inNintendoSwitch
New icons have also been added to the Home menu for Virtual Game Cards and GameShare, both introduced ahead of the Switch 2's launch.
Nintendo Switch Firmware Update Version 20.0.0 patch notes
Ver. 20.0.0 (Released April 29, 2025)
The following icons for new features have been added to the HOME Menu:Virtual Game CardPurchased Nintendo Switch digital software, DLC, and select free software are now represented as virtual game cards and displayed in a list within this menu.You can virtually load and eject these virtual game cards between up to two Nintendo Switch systems.Virtual game cards can also be lent to other members within the same Nintendo Account family group. For more details, refer to the Virtual Game Card Guide.GameShareCompatible software can be shared from a Nintendo Switch 2 system to other nearby systems for local multiplayer play.Play is only possible via local wireless, and the Nintendo Switch 2 must initiate the GameShare session.This feature is not available for use between two original Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, or Nintendo Switch Lite systems.User-Verification Settings has been added under User > User Settings.You can restrict access to the Virtual Game Card menu by requiring a PIN or by signing into your Nintendo Account.Online License Settings has been added.When enabled, you can play downloaded software or purchased DLC while connected to the internet, even without the virtual game card loaded.For more information, check the details for this option in System Settings.The color of the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch News icons on the HOME Menu has been updated.Multiple save data files can now be selected and transferred simultaneously in the “Transfer Your Save Data” menu.System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 has been added under System Settings > System.You can transfer your system data from a Nintendo Switch to a Switch 2 using local communication.For users who will no longer have their original Switch when they receive their Switch 2, there is an option to upload system transfer data to a dedicated server for later retrieval. Be aware that after uploading your data, the original Nintendo Switch will be reset to factory settings, so only use this method if you are sure you can finalize the transfer on the new console.If you plan to keep using your current Switch until you get a Switch 2, we recommend performing the system transfer locally after you have the new system.Both local and server-based transfer methods require an internet connection and a Nintendo Account.For full instructions, see the guide for System Transfer from Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2.The design of several user icons has been refreshed.
For comprehensive details on the Nintendo Switch 2, visit the official Nintendo website.
Please note that the term “Primary Console” is being phased out with the shift to virtual game cards, and “Pass-enabled console” will be used instead. On a console designated as the "Pass-enabled console" for a user, all users on that device can access certain subscriptions or passes for specific software. For further details, see How to Set or Change the Pass-Enabled Console for a Nintendo Account.
All of this builds excitement for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, launching on June 5. Pre-orders for the console went live on April 24, with the price holding steady at $449.99 — and the process unfolded about as smoothly as one might expect. Separately, Nintendo has alerted U.S. customers who placed a Switch 2 pre-order through the My Nintendo Store, noting that release date delivery cannot be guaranteed due to overwhelming demand.
For more details, check out IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.
