The Nintendo Switch the family of consoles has received its first system update in 2026. The last major update for the system landed in early December 2025, marking this as the first Switch update of the new year.
2026 will be an eventful year for Nintendo, if its big anniversaries are any indication. Year 2026, Zelda and Metroid turns 40, Pokémon will turn 30, and Animal Crossing will be 25 years old i.a. It's a big anniversary for many of its consoles too; The 15th anniversary of the Nintendo 3DS, the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy Advance and GameCube, and the 30th anniversary of the Nintendo 64 are all in 2026. While celebrations and new announcements are likely to be revealed for many of these in the coming months, keeping the current game lineup going is an important part of the game lineup.
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Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Get system update from January 2026
On January 12, Nintendo issued system updates for both the original Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. This update brings both systems to version 21.2.0 and should serve to make the gaming experience on Nintendo consoles smoother. However, Nintendo didn't reveal many details about what went into the update, only stating that both versions of the system have received general system stability improvements. In that respect, the update is similar to the last update that the Switch consoles received in 2025.
Getting the updates should be a simple process for both Switch and Switch 2 users. If the system is left in standby mode with a connection to the Internet, the update will be downloaded automatically. In the event that it has not been updated, users can do so manually by going to the System Settings menu from the home screen and selecting “System Update” under the “System” sub-menu. If the update does not download or install correctly, Switch owners should try restarting their consoles.
What's happening with the Nintendo Switch in 2026?
While this update isn't the most exciting thing to land on the Switch, it should help pave the way for a smooth launch for a number of games landing this year. Switch 2 owners are currently looking forward to games from Nintendo such as Pokemon Pokopia, Mario tennis feverand Yoshi and the Mysterious Bookto name a few. The Switch 2 also gets a number of third-party games at launch, such as Resident Evil Requiemgiving Switch 2 owners more to enjoy in the first half of 2026. However, there could be much more on the way.
A recent leak indicates that the first big Nintendo Direct of 2026 is likely to land on February 10th. The direct will likely focus on upcoming games in the first half of the year for the Nintendo Switch 2, but one surprise likely in store is a new 3D Super Mario game. The event has been described as “huge”, so if the rumors turn out to be true, there should be a lot to hype about in less than a month.
The Nintendo Direct in early February is likely to be well received by fans, considering what happened in 2025. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, gamers eagerly awaited a Nintendo Direct in the early months of the year, but didn't get one focused on the new console and Nintendo's upcoming games until almost April. With no new console to show off this time around, there should be a lot of focus on gaming. However, Nintendo can also talk about things like The Super Mario Galaxy Moviewhich is released in theaters in April. For now, however, players will have to wait for official confirmation of the first Nintendo Direct.
