Nintendo Adds Digital Game Gifting, Leaving PS5 as the Only Console Without It: How Gifting Works Everywhere

Nintendo is finally letting you gift digital games on the eShop. It starts November 16, according to Nintendo's own announcement, on both Switch and Switch 2. That leaves PS5 as the only big console where you still can't buy a digital game for someone else.

There's a catch with Nintendo's version though, and it's a big one. You can only gift to people in your Nintendo family group, not any friend you like.

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How Nintendo's gifting works

The steps are simple. Open the game's eShop page, tick "Give as a Gift," pick who it's for from your family group, pick which of their systems gets it, choose a gift wrap, and pay like normal. The game shows up on their HOME Menu right away.

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So it's great if you're a parent buying for your kids, or you share a family group with a partner. It's no help for buying a game for a buddy across town. For that, it's still an eShop gift card.

How gifting works on Xbox

Xbox has had this for years and it's the most open of the bunch. In the Microsoft Store, on console, the Xbox app or the website, you pick "Buy as gift" from the menu next to the buy button. On console you can choose someone from your friends list or type an email. On the web you just use an email.

The person gets a code by email, and on console a message with a button to redeem it. A few rules: the gift has to be redeemed in the same country or region it was bought in, and you can't gift pre-orders, free games, Xbox 360 or original Xbox games, or currency. If that's too fiddly, an Xbox gift card works anywhere in the right region.

How gifting works on Steam

Steam keeps it simple too. On a game's store page you pick "Purchase as a gift" instead of buying it for yourself, choose a friend from your Steam friends list, add a message if you want, and you can even schedule the delivery date. Handy for birthdays and Christmas.

Two things to know. Friends who already own the game are greyed out, so you can't double up by accident. And the person has to accept the gift. If they don't, it goes back to you as a refund.

What about PS5?

Right now, you can't gift a digital game on PS5. There's no "buy as gift" button on the PlayStation Store, and Sony hasn't said anything about adding one.

What you can do instead:

• PlayStation Store gift card. This is the main workaround. Buy a PSN gift card for the price of the game and send them the code. They add the money to their account and buy it themselves. Just make sure the card matches their account's country, because PSN cards are region-locked.
• A physical copy. Works fine, as long as they've got a PS5 with a disc drive. If they've got the Digital Edition and no drive, a disc is useless to them.

It's a bit clunky, but it gets the job done. With GTA 6 coming November 19, a lot of people are going to be doing exactly this.

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Why it matters

More and more people buy their games digitally, and some consoles don't even have a disc drive anymore. Being able to buy someone a game without a card in between should be basic. Xbox and Steam have done it for years, and now Nintendo is partway there. Sony's the one left out, right before the busiest gift season of the year.

FAQ

When does Nintendo eShop gifting start?

November 16, 2026, according to Nintendo, on Switch and Switch 2.

Can I gift a Switch game to a friend?

Only if they're in your Nintendo family group. Otherwise, use an eShop gift card.

Can you gift a digital game on PS5?

No. The best workaround is a PlayStation Store gift card for the right region.

Can you gift games on Xbox?

Yes, through the Microsoft Store's "Buy as gift" option, by email or your friends list.