Ahead of the anticipated launch of the Switch 2, an update to the Switch has modified the functioning of eShop charts

Nintendo has revised its methodology for compiling the download rankings on its eShop for the Switch.

Captured recently by the YouTube channel GVG, the previous chart algorithm ranked games based on download volume over the last two weeks, as stated in text at the bottom of the 'All Games' Charts section.

Following the latest 20.0.0 update to the Switch system, this page now reads that the listings are for "software titles with the highest sales over the past three days."

This implies a shift to revenue-based metrics, though clarity might be needed as the language is somewhat vague. To address this ambiguity, GamesIndustry.biz has sought further details from Nintendo.

This modification has resulted in fewer indie games appearing in the 'All Games' section, with more presence now in the Download Exclusives list.

Earlier footage from GVG shows several highly discounted games, like the Lego Ninjago game, no longer listed under the new ranking system.

In the UK at present, only two games with current discounts, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition and Red Dead Redemption, feature in the top 30 under the updated rules.

Notable Nintendo titles such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and entries from the Zelda series remain prominent in the revised charts.

The update has the additional consequence of minimizing the chart impact of low-quality or niche titles that previously achieved high positions due to aggressive price cuts, including unconventional apps like digital clocks.

This adjustment points to a shift in how Nintendo's eShop facilitates game discovery and suggests possible future functionalities for the Nintendo Switch 2 set for release on June 5.

The update also introduces the new Virtual Game Card and GameShare features to the Switch interface, along with other enhancements.