Nintendo’s Switch 2 is finally here after a long wait. If you’re getting yourself a Nintendo Switch 2, you’ll get a special feature that allow you to share games with other Switch consoles including the Switch 2, Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED variants. The process of sharing games is surprisingly easy.
Nintendo, keeping in mind its existing Switch users, has recently released a new firmware update for older Switch devices which adds a feature called GameShare. This update enables easy game sharing between the new Switch 2 to other Switch consoles.
This new GameShare feature is pretty interesting, and if you want to know more about it, you’ve come to the right place.
What is GameShare?
The new GameShare feature lets you share compatible games from Nintendo Switch 2 with other Switch consoles. You can share supported games with others, even if they don’t have the copy of the game. However, only Switch 2 users can initiate the GameShare, while older Switch can only join the shared games sessions.
The GameShare session can begin even if only the host have a copy of the game. When sharing the game using GameChat, it can be shared with up to three other players.
GameShare Compatible Games
Here’s a list of Switch games that support the GameShare feature. This list may grow over time.
- Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV
- Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
- 51 Worldwide Games
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
- Super Mario Odyssey
If you’re interested in utilizing the new GameShare feature on your existing Nintendo Switch, let’s explore the process.
How to get the GameShare on your Nintendo Switch?
To get the new GameShare feature on your Nintendo Switch, you need to install the latest available firmware update (version 20.0.0 or higher). Here is how you can search for updates on your Switch.
- Power up your switch and make sure there is more than 50% battery.
- Ensure that your switch is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
- Select the System Settings icon from the home screen of your Switch.
- Scroll down and select the System option, followed by System Update.
- Now, the device will search for updates. When it finds the update, it will download and later on install it to your device.
- Once the device has rebooted itself, you can now make use of the GameShare feature to share games with another registered Nintendo Switch console.
How GameShare works between Switch 2 and OG Switch (Locally)
This method only works if the game is being shared from a Switch 2 to Switch or even Switch 2. Unfortunately, games cannot be shared from the original Nintendo Switch to Switch 2. Here’s how it works locally.
- Connect both Switch devices to same Wi-Fi network.
- Now open the compatible game on your Switch 2. On the game’s Menu section you will see GameShare option, tap on it. This may slightly vary depending on the game you want to share.
- On your other Switch, select GameShare icon from the Home and navigate to Join GameShare > A Local User > Select the user you want to join.
- Switch 2 user can now tap on the Start button to begin game sharing.
- That’s it! The game will now also appear on your second device and let you play the game together.
Nintendo Switch 2 user can end the GameShare session whenever they want, and it will also end the session on the other Switch device.
GameShare via GameChat (Between Switch 2 devices)
This is another method of game sharing, but it only works between Switch 2 devices. The Switch 2 has a new GameChat feature that lets you chat with up to 11 other players online. This feature is currently free for a year (until March 31st 2026) and will become a feature that gets enabled via the Nintendo Online Subscription. Here’s how you can use GameChat to share games online with multiple Switch 2 users.
This way, even if one of your friends has a copy of the game, you and your other friends can play it together. All you need is a Switch 2.
Note: Total 4 people can play together with GameChat while sharing games. Users can only invite people from their friends list.
- On your Switch 2, press the dedicated C button to open GameChat menu.
- Now choose the user and then tap Create Chat.
- Select your friends you want to invite in the game share session.
- After selecting friends, select Next > Start Chat.
- Launch the game that you want to share. Select GameShare option which should be available in the game’s menu or settings.
- When other members get invite, they can press the C button and then on the right, select View GameShare Invitations.
- Now, select Join GameShare.
- Once everyone is joined, the host can start the session.
And that’s how you can share a game with another Switch 2 user via the GameChat feature. This works well if only one person has a copy of the game among four friends.
For GameShare to work, this feature needs to be initiated by a Switch 2, only then you and your friend can play the same game locally. The online method, which involves GameChat, only works between Switch 2 users.
Closing Thoughts
This concludes everything you need to know about GameShare, how you can use it and also what Switch devices will be compatible to make use of GameShare.
What do you think about GameShare? Is this something you would use to try out a game that your friend has? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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