The Nintendo Switch eShop was a complete disaster. That is not something said lightly, but there were and still are so many issues with the storefront. The slow loading, something that has been addressed, was just the smallest issue as there were so many more issues that held the storefront back.
The eShop lacked curation and was a mess to navigate, two things that combined to create a recipe for disaster. Shovelware games were abundant, and it was difficult for good games to stand out and for gamers to find said good games. Not helping this was the fact that many shovelware developers realized that they could just manipulate the use of discounts to stand out more, as well as re-releasing their games with new bundles every time any sort of dlc was added, sometimes combining that with a sale.
Before Switch 2 was released, the eShop received a much needed update to stop the spread of shovelware and highlight actual games better. The loading times were also improved, and it was clear Nintendo wanted to take action to ensure the Switch 2 eShop would not repeat the mistakes of its predecessor when the system launched. Upon checking out the Switch 2 eShop for myself, it became clear Nintendo was not taking the criticism lightly and had done a lot of work to prevent the issues of the Switch 1 eShop.
The Switch 2 eShop loads far faster than its predecessor, but more importantly, it is far better organized. For example, wishlisting games and removing games from the wishlist is far more simplified and even lets you filter it to just show the games on your wishlist that are on sale. This is far more convenient than what was done originally and was a bit cumbersome on Switch 1, so it is appreciated.
More importantly, the Switch 2 eShop now gives personalized recommendations for you that refresh each week. These recommendations come based on the games you have played, the games your friends have played, and what genres you seem to like. It is a nice touch and an excellent way to get people recommendations for games they might like.
Going to the recent releases section will see the eShop not just list the games that have come out recently, but also highlight some more notable games this time around. The coming soon section likewise makes changes, now breaking the games down by months and showcasing far more titles at a time. Plus being able to wishlist the coming soon games by pressing X and removing them from the wishlist by pressing the button again, just feels so right.
The Switch 2 eShop is not perfect, as it still lacks a bit of the personality the Wii U eShop had, especially with the multiple categories to help you find different kinds of games, and the music that would play. Still, this is a vast improvement and shows Nintendo was listening to criticism. Hopefully, Nintendo will continue to improve the eShop over the course of the Switch 2 lifespan, because this is very promising. Now bring on user reviews of games, and it will be a step closer to perfection.
