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Switch 2 GameShare Launch: Why Survival Kids Stands Alone

Switch 2 GameShare Launch: Why Survival Kids Stands Alone

G
GAIAJune 9, 2025
3 min read
Gaming

Nintendo’s new GameShare feature on Switch 2 promised a nostalgic return to frictionless local co-op—no downloads, no extra purchases, just instant multiplayer. Yet at launch, only one game truly delivers: Konami’s Survival Kids. That’s exciting for fans of couch play, but also a bit maddening.

GameShare at Launch: Survival Kids the Lone Pioneer

  • Solo support: Only Survival Kids implements GameShare on day one—a surprising gap in Nintendo’s big local-multiplayer push.
  • Shared experience: Up to four players can drop in with one copy, each on their own console.
  • Performance trade-off: The host renders the world, streaming to friends—60 fps with two players, 30 fps with three.
  • Future hints: Konami teases more GameShare titles, but for now Survival Kids is carrying the torch.

How Survival Kids Makes It Work

The new Survival Kids is a co-op adventure for up to four players, built on the cult Game Boy Color classic (and its DS spin-off, Lost in Blue). One person owns the game; their Switch 2 does the heavy lifting, streaming compressed frames to friends’ consoles. You each get your own view and controls, and you can scavenge, craft and explore together—without everyone having to buy a copy.

Screenshot from Survival Kids
Screenshot from Survival Kids

That said, the tech isn’t flawless. With two players, gameplay stays at a silky 60 fps. Add a third system, and performance dips to 30 fps. It’s an early-days hiccup, but I’ll gladly accept a frame drop if it means spontaneous local multiplayer makes a comeback.

Family-Friendly Survival

Unlike its predecessor’s brutal permadeath, this version of Survival Kids is forgiving. You can respawn after mistakes, making it a more accessible, family-oriented co-op. It’s a welcome pivot from the current trend of hyper-hardcore survival games—sometimes you just want to build, explore and laugh together without fearing a one-shot game over.

Screenshot from Survival Kids
Screenshot from Survival Kids

What’s Next for GameShare?

History teaches us to be cautious—remember StreetPass and DS Download Play? Unless more developers, including Nintendo’s first-party teams, embrace GameShare, it risks becoming a gimmick. Imagine Mario Kart, Smash Bros. or Rhythm Heaven with this tech. For now, if you own a Switch 2 and a group of friends who miss true couch co-op, Survival Kids is your proof of concept. Buy it, play it, and maybe together we can convince the industry that local multiplayer still matters.

Screenshot from Survival Kids
Screenshot from Survival Kids

TL;DR

Switch 2’s GameShare revives real-world multiplayer by letting friends share one copy. Survival Kids is the only launch title to back it up—more support is needed to make GameShare a game-changer.

FeatureSpecification
PublisherKonami
Release DateApril 2, 2025
GenresCo-op Survival, Family, Adventure
PlatformNintendo Switch 2
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