Find out more about how to transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 here or check out Customer Support.

Select Nintendo Switch accessories can continue to be used on Nintendo Switch 2. For more details on accessory compatibility, please visit Customer Support.

No.

In order to use GameChat, you need to be a Nintendo Switch Online member (except during the GameChat Open-Access Period*).

Text message verification is required to set up GameChat, using the phone number registered to your Nintendo Account.

To use video chat, you'll need a compatible USB camera (sold separately).

*GameChat Open-Access Period: Through March 31, 2026, GameChat can be used without a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Afterwards, A Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat.

For each GameChat session, players under the age of 16 and supervised users require a parent or guardian to allow use of the GameChat feature in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device app, and can only use GameChat with Nintendo Account friends approved by their parent or guardian.

Video chat using a compatible USB camera (sold separately) also requires separate permission.

Parents or guardians can view chat history, such as who their child chatted with and for how long, or restrict video.

The Nintendo Switch 2 camera features a green status light that will be illuminated when the camera is on. When the camera is not in use, the status light will be off.

The camera will only turn on when players activate their camera in GameChat, or when using CameraPlay in a compatible game.

Also, players can use the Nintendo Switch 2 camera’s built-in privacy shutter to cover the lens when not in use.

In general, the microphone is only active when enabled by users: for instance, when using GameChat, or using voice features in a compatible game.

Nintendo Switch 2 does not feature any system-level voice commands, so the microphone is not listening all the time.

Nintendo will review recordings of audio/video content only following a GameChat report. If someone experiences communication in GameChat for Nintendo Switch 2 not in line with the Community Guidelines, they can report it using the built-in reporting feature. All recording is otherwise privately stored on device and no recording is sent to Nintendo until a report is submitted.

A USB camera is not required for voice chat. It's possible for up to 12 people to connect over GameChat with audio only using the system's built-in microphone. You can also video chat and share game screens with up to four people with a compatible USB camera.

Learn more about USB camera support >

No.

GameShare only works with compatible games. Learn more about GameShare >

It is possible to do so, but only applies to GameShare via local communication.

No. The Nintendo Switch system only supports receiving compatible shared games using local communication. GameShare must be initiated by a Nintendo Switch 2 system.

Yes. All users on a system are able to use a virtual game card loaded on that system.

Yes, DLC can be lent out as a virtual game card and be played with both physical and digital games.

For digital games, DLC is managed together with the virtual game card for the main game.

For physical games, DLC is managed as its own virtual game card and requires the main game to play.

If the system that the virtual game card was lent to is connected to the internet, then as long as it is not currently being played, it is possible for it to be taken back using the system that lent it out.

The system that the virtual game card is lent to may also choose to return it before the end of the 14-day lending period.

Yes.

It is also possible to load a digital game purchased in the past to a second system as a virtual game card or to lend it to Nintendo Account family group members.

Yes, it is possible, but only for Nintendo Switch games. It is not possible to lend Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive games to a Nintendo Switch.

On a Nintendo Switch system, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will function as the Nintendo Switch version, so features and enhancements exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will not be available.

No. Virtual game cards can only be loaded on the two systems that have been paired.

Systems can be unpaired and swapped out. If you unpair a system, all virtual game cards loaded to it will be removed.

Please note that the online license setting allows you to play digital games without needing to use a virtual game card. You can use this setting to play on three or more systems. A successful online check is required to start a game via online license.

Save data is stored on the system. The save data will not be moved and will remain on the original system even when you load a virtual game card on a different system.

If you turn on Online License Settings in User Settings, then you can play without loading a virtual game card.

Virtual game cards and online licenses have the following differences:

Internet Connection

• Virtual game cards:

Once loaded on a system, a game can be played even without an internet connection after that.

• Online license:

An internet connection is required when opening the game. Also, if you are not connected to the internet for a while, then the game will be suspended.

Users who can play

• Virtual game cards:

All users on the system.

• Online license:

Only users who are linked with the Nintendo Account that purchased the game or DLC.

Number of systems

• Virtual game cards:

Up to two systems per Nintendo Account.

• Online license:

Can also be used with three or more systems.

Using software simultaneously on multiple systems

It's not possible to run the same game at the same time on multiple systems with either virtual game cards or online licenses.

A game-key card is a game card that does not contain any game data, but only includes the “key” required to start the game.

When playing a game for the first time, the data for the game itself will be downloaded over the internet so you can play.

Learn more about game-key cards in Customer Support.

Yes. However, when launching the game for the first time on that system you will need to connect to the internet and download the data to your system's internal storage to play the game.

In order to download the game, you will need an internet connection and enough free space in your Nintendo Switch 2 internal storage or microSD Express card. The required amount of free space is indicated on the game-key card packaging.

No. Like with regular game cards, you will need to insert the game-key card into the system when you want to play.

No.

You can see this by going from the HOME Menu to System Settings, then Data Management.

Like with other software, it is stored in the system's internal storage.

Your USB camera may be compatible. However, it is possible that some devices are not supported or are unstable.

You can test it first by connecting the USB camera to the USB-C port on the top of the Nintendo Switch 2 system and selecting System Settings from the HOME Menu -> Controllers & Accessories -> Test USB Camera.

This refers to the resolution of the video game image output to a display. Most TVs currently available support 1080p and 4K image resolutions.

Nintendo Switch 2 supports an image resolution of up to 4K in supported games when connected to a compatible TV. This is four times the image resolution of an image in 1080p resolution, which lets you enjoy crisper and more detailed image quality during gameplay.

TV and game must be compatible with 4K resolution.

A frame rate represents how many images are shown per second.

A higher number means more images are shown each second, making smoother movements possible.

The highest frame rate possible on Nintendo Switch 2 is 120 frames per second (fps) in compatible games.

Frame rate differs from game to game.

The frame rate limit for 4K resolutions is 60 fps on Nintendo Switch 2.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a technology that enables a wider range of brightness (a dynamic range).

On Nintendo Switch 2, HDR allows for a greater variety of light and color, and allows a richer expression of brightness, darkness, and vividness.

HDR support varies by game and requires a compatible screen when playing in TV mode.

This is a feature where the screen can adjust (vary) the number of images displayed per second.

The refresh rate is the number of times the image on screen changes per second. By changing the refresh rate in line with the game processing for VRR-compatible games on Nintendo Switch 2, it can allow for stable and smooth motion.

VRR support varies by game and is only possible when playing Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld and tabletop modes.