The greatest new feature introduced by theNintendo Switch 2isn’t at all what I expected from the console. As the fastest-selling console in Nintendo’s history, the original Switch always inspired high hopes in its successor. It wouldn’t need much: some internal upgrades, quality-of-life fixes, and the adaptable handheld’s sequel would do just fine. TheSwitch 2 delivers on those promisesand then some, bringing a couple of unique new features to the table.
Mouse controls, docked 4K support, and a bigger screen are all well and good - they’ll all inevitably become part of the console’s identity, the things we remember it for a few generations down the line. Butthe Switch 2’s best new feature is a lot smaller and simpler- I only hope Nintendo continues to support it so it remains viable.
GameShare Is An Underrated Switch 2 Feature
Play With Your Friends Anywhere
The Switch 2’sbest feature is GameShare, a functionality that allows you to… share games. In effect, you can enjoy a variety of multiplayer titles with your friends who don’t own them by using GameShare to stream the games to their device, and the control inputs from their device back to yours.
You can share games with friends in the same room using a LAN, even if they’ve yet to purchase the particular title. The best part is thatyou can even share certain games from the Switch 2 to the original Switch, so long as you’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network - but unfortunately, GameShare doesn’t work the other way around.
Plus,GameChat allows you to share games with friends across the globe. This particular kind of GameShare only works with multiple Switch 2 consoles - there’s no online sharing from Switch 2 to Switch 1 - but it’s still a pretty great way to enjoy multiplayer games without having to convince all your friends to open their wallets.
This comes amid all thecontroversy surrounding Game-Key Cards- cartridges that don’t contain actual copies of the game, but instead a key that unlocks a license to download the game digitally.
Now, it’s important to note thatGame-Key Cards can still be shared; they don’t contain just a single license, so you can lend one to your friend or resell it after you’re done just the same. Even so, in the current climate, the concept of game ownership can be nebulous, so Nintendo’s choice to sell physical cartridges that don’t contain actual games ruffled a few feathers.
GameShare is the antithesis of concepts like games as a service and streaming services cracking down on password sharing. It’s incredibly pro-consumer, and acknowledges something that all fans of multiplayer games know:fun is better when it’s shared.
Hopefully Nintendo Keeps Supporting It
GameShare Needs To Be Sustained
GameShare is a great feature, but if it’s ever going to reach its full potential,it needs to be supported in the long-term. At the moment, only a select few games are compatible with GameShare:
If GameShare is going to continue to be the Switch 2’s best feature, thenNintendo will have to continue growing this list over time, supporting GameShare throughout the Switch 2’s entire service life. Personally, I’d like to see some more third-party titles make the list as well, but even if the final list is mostly Nintendo originals, GameShare will still be one of the best new features of theNintendo Switch 2.
