Nearly a decade later, the original Switch finally has an eShop that isn’t painfully slow, thanks to a new system update

Nearly nine years after the original Nintendo Switch’s 2017 launch, Nintendo has finally addressed one of its most persistent user complaints: the glacially slow eShop. System update Version 22.5.0, released in June 2026, includes a complete redesign of the original Switch’s eShop interface that dramatically improves performance.

The eShop’s poor performance has been a well-documented issue since the console’s launch, with users regularly reporting frustrating load times and laggy scrolling as the store’s catalog has grown. While the interface was functional, its sluggish performance compared unfavorably to competitors and became increasingly problematic as the library expanded.

The redesigned eShop now runs significantly faster, with noticeably smoother scrolling and quicker navigation. The update introduces an optional dark mode that automatically activates if users have the Basic Dark theme selected on their Switch home screen. Additional improvements include the ability to set an access PIN to prevent unauthorized purchases and the option to skip forward or backward 10 seconds while watching content.

The redesign reportedly shifts the eShop from a browser-based implementation to a dedicated application, contributing to the substantial performance gains. The update also includes general system stability improvements across the Switch 1 lineup.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 is already in production, this update signals Nintendo’s continued commitment to supporting the original Switch. The eShop overhaul addresses one of the original Switch’s most longstanding frustrations, arriving nearly a decade after many users hoped for such improvements.

Nearly a decade later, the original Switch finally has an eShop that isn’t painfully slow, thanks to a new system update

Sources