The latest firmware update for the Nintendo Switch has rolled out a few unexpected surprises — and not all of them are going over well with fans.
🔄 Avatar Redesigns Hit User Profiles
Alongside the introduction of the new virtual card system, Nintendo has quietly revamped several of the default avatars available for user profiles. While these updates don’t replace characters entirely, they do refresh their appearance to align with how they look in current titles. Specifically:
- 14 Super Mario series avatars and 3 from Pikmin have received updated visuals.
- Most changes are subtle, but the new Donkey Kong avatar stands out, replacing the classic Rare-era design with the more modern look seen in Mario Kart World and the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza.
📸 A side-by-side comparison can be seen in a post from @OatmealDome on social media, showing just how these updated avatars differ from their original versions.
👥 Digital Game Lending System Arrives (With a Catch)
The more impactful addition in this update is the digital lending system, which allows players to lend their games to friends and family — a long-requested feature. However, this comes with some not-so-friendly restrictions:
- Nintendo has imposed limitations that affect how virtual libraries are shared.
- Many users feel that this new system, while helpful in theory, has complicated or even weakened the flexibility of the previous sharing methods.
As a result, while the avatar changes are a fun visual refresh, it’s the digital sharing update that’s sparking the most conversation — and frustration — among long-time Switch players.
Would you use the new lending feature, or do the limitations make it not worth it? 🤔
