Anyone who spent time browsing the original Switch eShop in its later years knows exactly what the problem was: an avalanche of low-effort titles burying anything worth finding. Nintendo appears determined not to repeat that mistake with the Switch 2, and now there's a developer voice backing that up.
Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive, the studio behind titles like Dusk, confirmed in a recent interview with RPG Site that Nintendo is actively gatekeeping which games earn a spot on the Switch 2 storefront. His comments offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Nintendo is managing its new platform's digital ecosystem from the ground up.
What Oshry Said
Oshry was candid about New Blood Interactive's own experience navigating Nintendo's approval process. The studio already has Switch 2 dev kits and has Dusk running at 120fps with mouse controls on the hardware, but is still waiting on Nintendo's green light to actually publish.
Here's the key quote from the RPG Site interview:
"They don't want it to just become a giant slop fest like the Switch 1 eShop became after a few years with just tons of shovelware on there. They're still pretty choosy about who gets to launch their games on Switch 2, but Nintendo's been very nice to us and stuff, giving us dev kits and letting us do updates for our games."
Oshry was clear that despite the wait, his relationship with Nintendo has been positive. The studio has received dev kits and is actively working on updates for existing titles while the approval process plays out.
danger
The stricter vetting currently applies to Switch 2 native titles. The original Switch eShop continues to receive new listings at its usual pace, meaning lower-quality titles are still appearing, just under the older platform's umbrella.What Nintendo Has Already Changed
Oshry's comments align with visible changes Nintendo has already made to the Switch 2 eShop experience. Several improvements distinguish it from its predecessor:
- Prominent placement of well-known titles at the top of the discounts page
- Separated best-seller charts for Switch and Switch 2 titles, reducing cross-platform clutter
- Visual differentiation through a red bar across the top of Switch 2 game key art, making it easy to identify native titles at a glance
These structural changes suggest Nintendo's quality-control approach isn't just about approvals behind the scenes, it's being built into how the storefront presents itself to players.
Why This Matters for Players and Developers
The key here is that Nintendo is trying to solve a problem it created by being too open on the original Switch. What started as a welcome indie-friendly platform gradually became difficult to navigate as shovelware multiplied. Finding genuinely great games required real effort, and smaller studios with quality titles often got lost in the noise.
For players, a more curated Switch 2 storefront means less time sifting and more confidence that what surfaces is worth a look. For developers like New Blood Interactive, the tradeoff is a slower path to launch, but potentially a more visible one once approval comes through.
What most players miss is that even a stricter approval process doesn't guarantee every title will be a hit. It does, however, raise the floor. Nintendo isn't promising masterpieces, just a storefront that doesn't feel like wading through a bargain bin.
The challenge going forward will be ensuring that quality indie titles, the kind that genuinely deserve attention, don't get caught in the same net as low-effort cash grabs. Visibility for strong indie games remains a persistent issue across every major digital storefront, and Nintendo will need to actively surface those titles rather than simply filtering out the worst offenders.
Source: Nintendolife
Make sure to check out our articles about top games to play in 2026:
Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2026
Best First-Person Shooters for 2026
Best PlayStation Indie Games for 2026
Best Multiplayer Games for 2026
Most Anticipated Games of 2026
Top Game Releases for January 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Switch 2 eShop different from the original Switch eShop?
Yes. Nintendo has made structural changes to the Switch 2 eShop, including separated best-seller charts for Switch and Switch 2 titles, improved placement of well-known games on the discounts page, and a red bar on Switch 2 game art to help players identify native titles quickly.
Why is Nintendo being strict about Switch 2 game approvals?
According to New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry, Nintendo wants to prevent the Switch 2 eShop from becoming overrun with low-quality shovelware, a problem that significantly affected the original Switch storefront in its later years.
Is Dusk coming to Switch 2?
New Blood Interactive has confirmed that Dusk is running on Switch 2 hardware at 120fps with mouse controls. The studio is currently awaiting Nintendo's official approval to publish the title on the platform.
