Switch eShop is finally fast after nearly a decade — system update Ver. 22.5.0 fixes it

Nearly a decade after launch, the original Nintendo Switch finally has an eShop that doesn't feel like loading a webpage on a 2005 internet connection. System update Ver. 22.5.0 replaces the old browser-based storefront with a proper local app — the same approach Switch 2 has had since its launch last summer.

The difference is immediately obvious. Scrolling through the eShop's massive game library is now snappy rather than a test of patience, and the new layout also supports a Basic Dark theme to match the console's own dark mode. Nintendo also added PIN code protection for both store access and saved payment methods, which speeds up purchases for adults and locks things down for households with kids. Daniel Vuckovic posted a clip on Bluesky showing the new app in action — it's a night-and-day improvement over what came before.

Complaints about the original eShop's sluggishness have been around for years, growing louder as the storefront became increasingly crowded with titles. The slow performance was bad enough that even browsing sale listings felt like a chore — plenty of potential impulse buys probably never happened because the store was too painful to navigate.

With Switch 2 production ramping up and the console approaching 20 million units sold, Nintendo clearly isn't abandoning the original hardware. This update is a meaningful quality-of-life win for the millions of players still on the original Switch, and it'll be worth watching whether a faster storefront actually moves the needle on digital sales.