PSA - My top 3 reasons why you need to unbox and set up the Switch 2 before Christmas Day

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Get that Switch 2 ready for a stress-free day

Photo of the Switch 2 sitting in its dock to the left side of the frame, with a blurred Christmas tree with red baubles in the background.
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
Don't know how to set up a Switch 2?

Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con in Joy-Con grip on a wooden desk with blue backlighting

(Image credit: Future)

Check out our Nintendo Switch 2 setup guide if you're unsure of how to get the Ninty handheld primed and prepared for the holidays. The guide takes you through not just how to hook it up, but also the steps required to get the internet up and running and everything else you need to know.

If you're planning on giving the gift of Ninty goodness this year that is the Nintendo Switch 2, I highly recommend that you get it charged and set up ahead of Christmas Day.

If you aren't yet convinced, I've outlined my top 3 reasons why getting the Switch 2 prepared ahead of time can make the holidays extra special down below. To top it all off, I've also included extra tips and shopping advice from one Nintendo fan to the likely parent of another, that can ensure the time spent with the new handheld is as magical as possible when December 25 finally arrives.

1. It will give you more time to relax on Christmas Day

Nintendo Switch 2 sitting on black TV bench with Mario Kart World gameplay in backdrop featuring Cow.

(Image credit: Phil Hayton)

If you're a parent or just the organised one of your friends and family, Christmas can be stressful. There's a huge list of things that need attention, from the food to any extra family and guests arriving, and so the last thing you want to do is to spend any more of your valuable time messing around with tedious gaming tech.

Unboxing and setting the Switch 2 up ahead of Christmas Day, however, means you can spend more time on more pressing matters, or just spend more time off your feet and relaxing, as you deserve to do on such a special day.

It doesn't have to make the gifting of the handheld less special, either. You can still wrap up the Switch 2 box under the tree, and have the actual device hidden under a wrapped cardboard box and sat next to the TV. A cute trick I like to do, which always goes down well each year, is to tell my loved one to close their eyes and place the item (in this case, the Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers) in their hand. All you then have to do is tell them to open their eyes, and they'll get the wonderful surprise of the brand-new Nintendo handheld.

2. Any Switch 2 games you gift can be enjoyed straight away

Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of Tears of the Kingdom running on the Nintendo Switch 2, with the box sitting to the side.

(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)

By setting up the handheld ahead of time, you can ensure any Switch 2 games, accessories, or other goodies you gift on the day can be enjoyed as soon as possible.

For example, if there's a copy of Donkey Kong Bananza under the tree, your loved one can pop that into their new Switch 2 and play it there and then. Instead of having to wait for the tedium of unboxing the device and getting the internet all connected, the only thing they'll have to worry about is any patch updates to the game - which are an unavoidable annoyance in this modern age of gaming.

Setting up ahead of time can be particularly handy if you've happened to grab and gift any party games, like Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, which is available for $79 at Amazon right now. With the handheld all ready to go, you and your loved one can play through a series of Super Mario Party mini-games on Christmas Day, which is always fun. Jamboree has remained a fixture of all my family's social gatherings since its release, and I've been asked by my in-laws to bring it over again this year.

You can bet that I'll be setting up the Switch 2 on Christmas Eve, to ensure we can all play through some mini-games and boards on December 25 without any annoying setup issues getting in the way of our holiday celebrations.

3. You can be reassured it's working fine and avoid any disappointment

Nintendo Switch 2

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

This tip hits home, as I'm pretty cursed when it comes to being gifted new consoles, and handhelds in particular, for the holidays. In the past, when Santa brought me the then brand new Nintendo DS, I was hit with a rare dead pixel on the touch-screen, and had to return it later on. This happened again a few years after the PS Vita was released, as my Sony handheld was plagued with a rare charging fault, which meant I couldn't enjoy it on the day. Which, as you can imagine, was a bit of a bummer.

Had my mum had the know-how to set up either device ahead of Christmas Day, she could have been alerted to these issues and replaced the handhelds ahead of time. Of course, I don't blame her for not knowing how to do that, especially as I was grateful to receive anything, never mind pricey bits of gaming tech. Not to mention, not every parent is as tuned into the world of gaming tech as others.

However, that's exactly why I'm bringing this tip to your attention. By setting up the Switch 2 ahead of Christmas Day, you can check if there's any damage or issues with the device. There shouldn't be, but it's not impossible that you could have been sent a dud from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart, as it happens with all tech. By checking ahead of the holidays, you'll be giving yourself plenty of time to organize a replacement in case any issues do arise, so there won't be any tears or disappointment.

Before you go...

If you aren't sure what to look for, or need advice or help with any of the tips I've outlined today, feel free to reach out to me, and I'll help you the best that I can. I've been obsessed with Nintendo tech ever since I could stand on two legs (with the picture to prove it), and nothing makes me happier than to help parents, or just family and friends who aren't as much in the know, gift Nintendo tech over the holidays, without any hiccups.

Please remember, before you drop $400+ on the handheld, that you don't need to break the bank to make a Nintendo fan's Christmas Day extra special. If you don't have the means to afford the new device, there are plenty of existing Nintendo Switch accessories, games, and budget-friendly Nintendo gifts that any Ninty fan would more than appreciate receiving.

Check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 cases for more gift ideas for the holidays.

Rosalie Newcombe
Rosalie Newcombe
Hardware Editor

Ever since I first held a NES controller in my hand I've been obsessed with gaming, and the hardware it runs on. I could hook up a NES and SNES to a telly, without instructions, before I could walk. Even now, nothing is more exciting then taking a console, or handheld, out the box for the first time and setting it up. This obsession transformed into a love of games and game music, which lead to my music degree and dream of becoming the Scottish Nobuo Uematsu. After sharing my love of games through music, I began to share my love through words on sites like TechRadar and iMore. This lead to becoming a Hardware staff writer for PCGamesN, and later the Senior Tech Writer for Dexerto, covering all things Steam Deck, PlayStation and Nintendo. With that experience, I was able to level up as Hardware Editor for GamesRadar+, where I'm still just as Nintendo, PlayStation and gaming tech obsessed as ever.

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