that nintendo switch The console family has received its first system update of 2026. The last major update for the system was released in early December 2025, marking it as the first Switch update of the new year.
2026 is shaping up to be an eventful year for Nintendo, if any significant anniversaries mean anything. In 2026 zelda and metroid Turning 40, pokemon You will be 30 years old, animal forest Some of the others will be 25 years old. It's also an important anniversary for many consoles. The 15th anniversary of Nintendo 3DS, the 25th anniversary of Game Boy Advance and GameCube, and the 30th anniversary of Nintendo 64 are all in 2026. Celebrations and new announcements will likely be revealed in the coming months, but keeping the current lineup of systems running smoothly is an important part of keeping gamers happy.
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Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Receive January 2026 System Update
On January 12, Nintendo released system updates for both the original Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. This update brings both systems to version 21.2.0 and should help make the gaming experience on Nintendo consoles smoother. However, Nintendo didn't reveal many details about the update's contents, only saying that both system versions have improvements to general system stability. In that respect, this update is similar to the last update the Switch console received in 2025.
Receiving the update is a simple process for both Switch and Switch 2 users. If the system remains in standby mode and connected to the Internet, updates will be downloaded automatically. If it is not updated, users can update it manually by accessing the System Settings menu from the home screen and selecting “System Update” from the “System” submenu. If the update doesn't download or install correctly, Switch owners should try restarting their console.
What will happen to Nintendo Switch in 2026?
This update isn't the most exciting thing coming to the Switch, but it will help pave the way for a smooth launch for several games coming this year. Switch 2 owners can now look forward to the following games from Nintendo: Pokemon Pokopia, mario tennis crazeand Yoshi and the Mysterious BookJust to name a few examples. Switch 2 will also feature several third-party games at launch, including: Resident Evil RequiemMore fun coming to Switch 2 owners in the first half of 2026. But there may be more to come.
According to a recent leak, the first major Nintendo Direct of 2026 will likely be released on February 10th. The Direct will likely focus on games releasing in the first half of the year for Nintendo Switch 2, but one of the surprises expected in store is new 3D. super mario game. The event has been described as 'massive', so if the rumors turn out to be true, there will be a lot of hype in less than a month.
Considering what happens in 2025, it seems likely that the Nintendo Direct in early February will be well-received by fans. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, players have been anxiously awaiting a Nintendo Direct for the first two months of the year, but we didn't get a Nintendo Direct focused on the new console and Nintendo's upcoming games until almost April. There will be no new consoles to show off this time, so the focus will be on gaming. But Nintendo could also talk about things like: super mario galaxy movieReleased in theaters in April. But for now, we'll have to wait until the first Nintendo Direct is officially confirmed.
