Nine years after the Switch launched, Nintendo finally fixed the eShop. The June 15 system update (version 22.5.0) replaced the original Switch's web-based eShop with a native app, dramatically cutting load times and eliminating the lag that made browsing the store a miserable experience for nearly a decade. Polygon's Oli Welsh called it a "seismic system update" that arrived one year into the Switch 2's lifespan, just as Nintendo is pivoting to its successor.
The patch notes only mention a "redesigned layout" and color coordination with the console's dark theme. Nintendo did not publicly acknowledge the performance improvement. But the real change is under the hood: the eShop is now a native application rather than a slow browser wrapper, according to multiple outlets including Kotaku and My Nintendo News.
It's still not as fast as the Switch 2 version, but it's "light years better than the original," Welsh wrote. The update also adds PIN verification for purchases and saved payment methods, plus 10-second rewind and advance controls using the ZL and ZR buttons when watching full-screen videos in News or eShop. On the Switch 2 side, the same firmware adds Dutch and Russian language support for text-to-speech and GameChat accessibility features.
"There's only one new first-party Switch release left," Welsh noted of the upcoming Rhythm Heaven Groove next month. "After that, it's Switch 2 all the way." The June 15 update (version 22.5.0) is available on both consoles via system settings.
