Nintendo Announces 'Virtual Game Cards' For Switch, Unlocking Digital Lending

local only transfer is nintendo nintendo-ing it upa gain

I feel they should had done this years ago but it's great if this also applies to Switch 2 games too.

It's great I think. As long as we can still play games on multiple accounts on our family account (set as primary console).

Edit:
I now realize it's worse.

I agree with @RupeeClock @HeadPirate it is more restrictive. My kids can play Splatoon together using our main console (with multiple accounts set as its primary console) and my son's own Switch Lite (where it was set as his secondary console) where we bought Splatoon 3.

With the new system, Splatoon 3 "virtual cart" can now only be played with 1 console at once. Not to mention my son's Switch Lite needs to be updated every 15 days now.

That is actually kinda cool though not gonna lie. But my main question is if this is ONLY for Nintendo games or could this apply to indies and 3rd party games too? It seems its only for Nintendo games which is fine I guess.

Looking forward to this update though nonetheless!!!

@Serpenterror I think in the direct they said it applies to Switch 2 as well but I am not sure 100%.

The question is can we keep the virtual game card like we put inside micro SD card?
I don't think I can feel the physicality of virtual game card.

I always hated the whole primary console solution that felt more like a hack than anything. This has potential to simplify gaming for families with multiple Switch devices, let's see.

can someone please explain how this is any different from just installing the game on multiple systems, a thing you can already do

its a bit complicated, but i think it will be great when it comes out !

Will this be for all digital games or will it only be for certain ones?

I do not understand.

Other than being able to "lend" games to NSO family, the Switch already has these features for digital games. 🤔

This announcement confused me slightly....

Maybe Nintendo will finally land Steam's family sharing in the next 10 years.

This is really neat, I really like the idea.

W Nintendo? This is actually so consumer friendly

Great initiative but I think I'll stick get physical copies whenever possible.

@Anti-Matter I hope so, it would have been nice if they said?

@antlion They put that in the trailer; you can.

You know what? I'll take it. Trying to switch from gaming on my OLED (main) to my Lite (secondary) is kind of pain.

With this system, I'll just keep some of games on the Lite system and leave it to that.

Can they make using DLC content across multiple systems more lenient too while they're at it?

So does this also mean you don't have to redownload these titles??

I think this is a lot better of a solution than the primary and secondary system thing Nintendo had going before.

@YaGirlSkyByte If a game is installed on multiple systems, only the primary system can start the game without an internet connection.

This probably won't matter for dock only players but it's great for us that use handheld mode.

@YaGirlSkyByte You lend the game to a different account. That is the difference.

The current arrangement means you have to be logged in to 2 different consoles, with the secondary console always needing an Internet connection to check whether the game is already being played on the 1st console.

This new thing means that:

1) It'll get rid of that primary vs secondary console nonsense

2) You can actually give it to a friend without needing to out your account on their system

Unfortunately I was busy when this part showed up. Hopefully they upload a trailer of that part. I don't feel like going to the Direct to fetch for that specific part.

2 weeks doesn't sound that bad, either. That's the average time a game holds my sister and nephew's attention. And that's about the time it takes me to beat a game these days, provided I don't go for a 100%.

@YaGirlSkyByte That’s what I’m wondering too. Maybe this means that the use of a “primary console” won’t be necessary if you have, say, a base Nintendo Switch and a Switch Lite. That will be useful for sure.

If they added lending to friends, it would be amazing. Otherwise, just meh...

@AussieMcBucket

The virtual game card only transfers the license to play it. The receiving console still needs to then download the game.

Hands down the best part of the Direct (unfortunately).

Roll on April 2nd

@YaGirlSkyByte the difference is now you can’t play the digital games on multiple systems anytime you want. Now you can’t play only play a game on a single system at a time and you manually have to pick what system it is on. Basically Nintendo got rid of the benefits of owning digital games but people here are going to eat it up because “Nintendo”

Convoluted, dumb, better made on other consoles.
Classic Nintendo

@themightyant Appreciated, thanks a lot.

EDIT: Turns out they already uploaded the trailer.

@TheExile285 This is already how Family Sharing works on Steam and Steam Deck, so it isn't good but it isn't awful either. It is much more important if you can continue a game offline; requiring server connectivity to launch the game is one thing, but requiring it at all times ruins the feature in handheld. Valve allows this, so hopefully Nintendo will also.

@somebread It seems the local part is only the first time to set it up (to connect the consoles to your account).

At first I thought it seemed a cool idea

But then I thought isn't it just as easy (probably easier) to take a real cartridge out of your console and lend it to the person you want too in reality.

Just seems like a lot of faffing around to do something we could already do

@Denoloco I'm interested to know what other consoles do this better?

As fair as I am aware, neither the PS5 nor Series X allow you to lend games to your friends.

So instead of being able to play every single game I own at any time on any Switch simply be logging into my account, I can now only play them on 1 console at a time, and have to update every 15 days if it's not my main console?

Wow. This is the biggest f-u by any gaming company in a LONG time. I hope there is backlash, but I doubt there will be ... and even if there is, Nintendo has never been all that big on listening.

This has me pretty excited about the future potential of the digital game card concept. I've always thought that Nintendo or any other digital game store could use NFTs (I know, scary word) for the software licensing, this would make it so users could resell their digital games, or give them to other people, etc.

As a four-Switch household, this will be a literal ‘game changer’ for us!

This one is funny. It's like the need to hate on Nintendo is interfering with basic comprehension and people can't parse out how this simple improvement works. It's a nice bridge between digital and physical ownership and hugely friendly for family households with multiple systems like mine.

@Member_the_game This is exactly what Nintendo are replicating with digital games.

Something that you couldn't do previously.

@LadyCharlie @YaGirlSkyByte As a parent who bought a "family" Switch when my kids were younger, set up accounts for each, then when they got older got their own Switch, playing games across accounts was a nightmare. Nintendo basically wanted to force you to buy multiple copies of the game. For a couple of games we actually did buy multiple copies to play on 2 Switch in the same house. So this seems like it will alleviate that a bit.

Sorry I'm not doing a good job explaining it but it wasn't intuitive, easy, or fun. So I think it's really for parents. Maybe young siblings.

I've said it before and I will say it again, there will be no physical games for switch 2. The slot in switch 2 is ONLY for switch 1 games.

Yep, I have the gut feeling this will put a stop in what many of us are doing to duplicate or triplicate games (put a dummy primary account of little Timmy and sisters Switch to allow them to play X game, use that dummy account as secondary on your own Switch to play the same game as long as you have an internet connection available).

But indeed, it seems to be a good idea for the average users that don't deal with this kind of tricks.

Good idea. This and Metroid Prime 4 were the highlights for me. That new app looks interesting as well.

@HeadPirate Huh? It literally showed in the trailer that you can split your whole collection across 2 devices, assuming you have your account on there.

No idea why you think you can only share 1 at a time.

Sounds like something that benefits families more so than individuals, especially with many owning multiple Switches. Not that surprising in light of that.

I’m more interested in how this works with 2. This might answer my question about how digital games get transferred between Switch 1 and 2 and how we can pick and choose which games get carried over.

Honestly, I didn't get it. Is it Steam families but with extra steps or can you lend games to anyone(friends)?

This is a good idea considering I have a lot of digital games in my library and as someone who owns 3 Switch units (don't ask), having to swap digital games between systems will be a lot easier without the constant need of internet connection

@Asantos obviously I really hope you're wrong, but aren't sales in Japan still 50-50 physical/digital? That gives me hope that they won't just abandon physical.

@HeadPirate The 14 day thing is if you want to lend it to someone else. Now they don't need to do goofy things like log into your account and need to be connected to the internet.

If this means I don't have to put my Switch in Airplane mode when I'm playing something on my Switch Lite while my son plays something else, I'm a happy camper.

@Kiz3000

I corrected what I typed ... I meant one console.

Also ... even if it was one at a time, that's not the issue. The issue is I can already do this, easier, with every single game on any console.

@somebread pretty sure its local only the first time, then after that its whenever

@drumnbayes I really hope I'm wrong too, but this makes me believe that maybe, I'm right

I’ve been begging for this feature. It’s not exactly what I was hoping for, but it’s a start.

@RenanKJ Dude that solution was great. You can play games on multiple consoles at once using it.

This looks to be a good idea for those that have multiple Switch consoles in a household - like if a parent purchases all the games on the family account and the kids want to play on their own Switch.

However, is looks like they just nerfed the workaround for those playing he same game on two consoles at the same time...

This looks like a terrible idea. Currently you can have games loaded on multiple consoles and can launch titles simply by having an internet connection on the secondary console. Now you have to move games over one at a time to access on a second console? Abosltely makes no sense to do it this way! Why go backwards on digital ownership?

I'm certain this will be a major feature they want on Switch 2 day one. This should have been day one on Switch. Seems to be pointless to roll this out on Switch now, but I'm sure it's part of their plan with integration to the new system.

@Indielink It's any other Switch. You can't own two consoles, you have to set one as your "home". The 15 days applies to any console that isn't your "home", even if you own two consoles. I have multiple consoles at different locations, for example, and right now can play every game I own on both systems.

Now that set up wont work any more.

It really is mind blowing how Nintendo was the first out of any console maker to have an official tool to sharing digital games, positively impressed tbh.

I thought this meant I would be able to buy physical games, download them into the console, and then resell the cartridge. Still cool, though.

So as soon as I buy Switch 2, I will be able to move games (virtual cards) from Switch 1 to 2. But if I move a game to 2, I won't be able to play it on 1. Not great, I hope at least that cloud saving is shared.

There seems to be a LOT of confusion about how the current system works, so I wanted to clarify that.

Right now, on any console, you can play any game that meets one of two criteria.

1) The game was bought on the account that is currently logged in.
2) The game was bought on the account that "owns" that Switch.

That means that if you own two Switches, each on a different account, not only can you play all games on both all the time, you can play the same game on both systems AT THE SAME TIME.

That's because you buy everything on account 1 on system 2. System 2 owns all the game, so the person with that system can always play them, but as they are tied to account 1, the person logged into account 1 can also paly them on system 1. At all time. Without having to do anything. Even if the other person is currently playing that same game on their console.

This change has no other purpose then to change that and try, as has been the goal of so many changes on so many systems time and time again, to force families to buy multiple copies of the same game. There is no situation where this is better or easier for current users, and the ability to lend a game to one of your 8 friends of family in no way makes up for what we are losing.

I'm not really a pitch-folk kinda guy and generally support the right of companies to make decisions about how we use their products, but this is the type of change that too drastic to simple accept.

Oh ok, I thought it meant that game cartridges installed the game on your system. Therefore making all physicals completely pointless as they would just be download shortcuts. (well some "Physicals" are already like this)
Thank the lord....

If I'm understanding correctly, this is a big downgrade for families that share two Switches.

Right now I have my primary account set up on our family Switch, and my own personal Switch. We can play a single copy of Animal Crossing together simultaneously because of this. However, this makes it look like the virtual game card can only work on one Switch at a time.

In addition to this, it would also make it much harder for my kid to just pick up their Switch and play a game. "Which Switch is Animal Crossing installed on? Hang on, I have to get both Switches turned on so that I can transfer the card over". This just seems like a huge pain.

For what they've shown I think there is the possibility that they will use a blockchain system to give the digital licenses of games so when you lend the game the license will be temporarly trasfered too. If they do this right it could be a great step forward into the digital ownership that is not an unlimited time rental that coul be taken off whenever the company decide to.

Definitely a much better system for sharing download games. By calling them virtual game cards, that also makes it easier for people to understand the concept. When you share a physical card, obviously you can't play it yourself. Same with a virtual one.

It also stops the circumvention with the current share system where the primary Switch, after sharing with a secondary Switch, can disable the Internet and then play the game too. A win win for Nintendo!

Im going to love this. So many games my daughter wants to play on her account, but cant because its tied to mine. Now ill be able to share. Only concern I have is can i lend it multiple times back to back. (i.e. 2 weeks them another 2 weeks then another 2 weeks to the same person)

@Kiz3000

Except with a physical cartridge you can sell it if you don't like the game or if you decide you won't play it again

I think this is great. It allows a better separation between my Switch Lite (for my commute) and the home-bound console.

Also, the kids can 'borrow' my games (I'm sure we'll still end up buying copies of Pokemon)

The best thing about first party Nintendo games is always how smooth and easy to understand the gameplay mechanics often are, and this is what they have done for game sharing: made it smooth and easy to understand and visualise for the average user or busy parent too busy or not interested enough to figure out the old primary account system. Everyone can figure out how it works now. IMO it’s kind of genius actually.

@Runex2121 This is exactly the same position that I am in. I usually end up buying multiple copies of the game when the kids bug me enough.

I wonder how they taste compared to the physical ones, hmm...

@raphsolo I have 2 switches, but in order for my daughter to play any digital game I bought, she has to log into my account on her switch, something I dont like.

This eliminates the need for that by allowing me to loan her a game she can play on her account without having to buy it twice.(something ive done many times)

So basically as it is now but you front load them instead of giving access one at a time? That’s good!

People are really underselling just how incredible this is.

1. More control over what should be considered ownership.

2. Only need one copy per single player game per household.

3. The 2 weeks thing is both for Nintendo to not lose out on duplicate sales completely but also because recents bad actors from stealing. Like imagine going to a gaming convention and the dev can now personally give you a two week trial of their game. They don’t need to worry about making a proper demo which would cost time and money and you can decide if you want to pay for it. A lot of shorter games can easily be beaten in this time frame as well.

As long as the 2 week loan doesn’t do something stupid and delete your save this is revolutionary and I fully expect MS and Sony to copy in some way.

@Kiz3000
one thing im curious about is things such as online checks, since one of the things about a primary system is the advantage of not needing to use the internet in order to access your games. (basically as long as your system is registered as primary you can play digital offline on any user on that system for as long as you want iirc)

The video showing the account though did mention that online is only needed when loading or ejecting so i assume that you can still stay offline as long as the game is on your system

@Member_the_game or lose it, as my daughter has done to countless games.(I stopped buying her physical because i always wound up getting more than 1 after she lost them)

@Overzeal I believe if it's like NSO Game Trials, the saves won't be affected and if you want to get rid of them, you have to do it manually on the System Settings.

Speaking of it, combined with NSO, I expect those saves to go to the cloud as well.

@HeadPirate Yeah, this is the most blatant anti-consumer move Nintendo has done in a while. I've literally been using the current system to share digital games with my younger brother (lives at home and I'm at school) for the past 3 years. I'm so frustrated with this. It's an objective downgrade that severely limits what you can do. I'm also not typically the pitchfork type, but this is making me consider a Nintendo boycott. It's going to screw my entire setup up so much.

Edit: After rewatching the video, it appers there may be a way to opt out of this junk. There was fine print at the end reading ""By navigating to User Settings ⇒ Online-License Settings and turning the setting to ON, you can instead opt to connect to the internet to start up software." I'm having trouble understanding what this means, but hopefully it means the old system may still be an option. But that being said, any help interpreting would be appreciated.

@John_Deacon So your complaining because they are essentially patching an unintended loophole you're currently taking advantage of?

@HeadPirate I thought I was going insane by being the only one seeing this. This takes away what's so good about having digital games.

@Konsori You just explained why in your answer! Nintendo don't want you loading the same game on multiple systems. They want you thinking that a downloaded game works just like a physical one! In simplifying the "share" concept, yes, they've gone backwards in that sense. For most people, who might have a second Switch or one for the kids, it's easier in practice and to understand sharing a virtual card than fool around with primary and secondary Switches, etc.

I do not care for the mandatory 14 day limit, just give the owner of the game the option to force a return of the digital title back onto their system.

But this was a nothingburger, personally. I have a primary and secondary Switch, but only play one at a time. A more useful feature would have been to bring back the Activity Log from the 3DS.

@KociolekDoSyta I heard they taste like 0s and 1s.

@HeadPirate Too much work, and what If I have 3 switches?

Also, there is a thing called intended use. I have no desire to circumvent intended use to benefit myself. This option is much easier to implement and understand than having to work through turning off your internet each time you play as well as setup.

So Id disagree that it benefits noone. My consoles are always online. The idea of having them offline is a non starter as well since I strictly regulate my childs online access and playtime.

I'll definitely experiment with this feature, and try out lending a digital game to my sister once it's live to see how it performs.

Also sounds like a pretty handy way to juggle games between my OLED Switch and the Switch 2, compared to the primary/secondary thing they've been doing. I plan to keep my OLED Switch, even when I pick up a Switch 2.

@HeadPirate Apparently there’s an option to opt out of this and just keep using the primary account system if you prefer it.

Aw man I glossed over the bit in the Direct where it said that you can only lend games to people who are registered as being in your "family". So I won't be able to lend games to my friends, that's a bit of a downer.
But yeah I can see that Nintendo needed to come up with something to address the fact that a huge proportion of Switch owners will soon own two Switches.

@Runex2121

You don't have to turn the internet off to use the current system. You can even play online games together at the same time.

@IOI

Thank you for commenting! But can you show me anywhere this is in writing? Or even where you heard it as a rumor?

I currently have multiple family member's accounts on my Switch.
I can download any game they have purchased onto my Switch.
I can play any game I have downloaded on my Switch using any account on my Switch.
I haven't tried playing a game purchased on one account on multiple Switches at the same time so I don't know if there are currently any limitations on that. 🤷‍♂️

The new method wants to change that...

From what I understand the new method wants to lock purchased games to one primary game console.
It wants to make it so you can "lend" it to one other secondary console for 2 weeks...

If how I understand this is correct then it seems like they are limiting the existing system for how we access and share digital games with our family members, and I am not happy about it.

I kind of get it but not really. I'll definitely play around with it when the update drops. I have a Lite that I like to play every now and again but it mostly just sits in a drawer because the primary secondary thing is a pain to deal with.

According to Nintendo Japan (https://www.nintendo.com/jp/games/virtual-game-card/index.html)

1. We can still use the old primary/secondary verification system
( 「オンラインライセンスの設定」をONにすると、インターネットに接続してソフトをはじめる従来の方法でも遊べます。 )

2. This new system basically means instead of have only one primary system capable of playing offline, people can set "primary" for each game individually.

3. Unlike primary/secondary system, one can have 1 primary and multiple secondary, this new virtual card system can only be used on two consoles.
(「バーチャルゲームカード」をセットできるのは、一つのニンテンドーアカウントにつき同時に2台までです)
Unsure, but it seems also means one could insert virtual card into two system and play at the same time without internet. (GREAT!)

4. Lending/borrowing can only be done within the same family group.

5. If someone borrowed your game and you want your game back before 14days, it seems instead of you, THAT GUY's Switch need to be connected to the internet, otherwise, good luck.
(期間が終了する前に返却してもらう場合、貸出先の本体がインターネットに接続している必要があります。)

6. (Unsure how this system will handle Physical game + digital DLC)

7. Virtual Cards managing can also be done using Nintendo Account website without using Switch.
(また、ニンテンドーアカウントのウェブページからも、バーチャルゲームカードの管理やセットができます。)

I have multiple GB, GC, DS, but the old primary console verification DRM system is why I only have one Switch, and the old NNID DRM is why I only have one 3DS (before cfw).

While this new Virtual Card is far from ideal, but without this, I refuse to buy a new Switch or even Switch 2, so GJ Nintendo.

@HeadPirate From back when I used to do this with my brother the setup was like this:

• My brothers switch was set as my Home console
• This means he was able to download and play any game from my digital library
• As my switch was secondary I had to be connected to the Internet for the system to check my brother wasn't already playing the game before it let me boot up the game
• My brother was able to play any game i was already playing BUT I could not play any game he was already playing

Do i have this wrong somewhere?

I'd have to see how this feels over downloading. Especially since my sister and I have our own lites but share a system with the TV.

If only two consoles can set up this swapping thing, than we can't both put our things on and off the shared system. BUT if it's two systems per ACCOUNT, we're fine.

Also how does this play with the cloud saving since only one system can "have" your game at one time?

So one less incentive for people/families to buy physical, is what I get from this.

To me it sounds more like them trying to figure out how they can ease people into the full digital console future.

@Bomberman64 Until it is made mandatory that digital games can be bought and sold by the end user, then digital gaming will not take off.

I thought there was an EU ruling on this a while back but I'd imagine the big guns kicked off and got it overturned.

it seems theres a lot of confusion surrounding this, the local transfer thing is just how you designate a second system as your own, this way you could have a secondary system without needing to connect to the internet all the time to verify your primary console is offline. THAT is the point, you transfer a game from your docked home switch to your out-and-about handheld switch once at home, from then on theres no internet connection necessary, and it doesnt matter which console is primary or secondary

@sunspotty Your second prong is wrong.

The trailer says they have to be a family member AND the card has to be transfered locally.

Absolutely huge news, especially for families. Like I don’t think anyone quite gets how massive this is.

To put in perspective, only Steam allows anything similar, allowing you to send licenses you’re done with to family/friends. Xbox and Sony def don’t do this, and I don’t know of any other digital store that does.

The only thing here is that it’s a timed thing so far, only allowing for 2 weeks at a time and having to be local. A full license transfer to a family member or friend would be the next step (and best course). But this opens the door for that.

Seriously huge.

Edit - to further clarify, this is a temporary transfer of license, not just game sharing. Currently as it stands on Xbox and PlayStation you are account and internet bound. You either need the prime account on the system playing or access to the internet. This requires both for the first transfer and then not again for 2 weeks. The secondary switch needs never to connect to the internet to verify DRM after the fact. This is quite literally the virtual version of handing someone your game card for a couple weeks, except you don’t have to worry about them breaking it.

This paves the way for digital full transfers of licenses - sending your friends or family the copy of the game permanently while revoking your license. Much like being able to sell or trade a physical copy. This also can pave the way for doing such things on a digital front.

Again, neither MS nor Sony do anything like this yet, and I’ve only heard of Steam being able to (and I think that’s either friend or family bound).

This also can open up the possibility of being able to purchase digital titles to send to your family and friends. Possibly a way around Nintendos very strict purchase system - something only parents may know of. I went to buy my daughter a copy of Resident Evil 5 so we could play together, but due to her age on her Nintendo account it will not let me. It’s a strict set on her eShop profile that cannot be changed. Other systems will ask me, and even switch will, for her to play T or M rated games. Even purchase T rated (got her MHGU not long ago) but they have a strict no sell of M titles to anyone that isn’t 18+. No matter what I do to parental controls or her profile. Check Reddit, I’m not the only parent/person to come across this issue. And even Nintendo support can’t change it.

@Kiz3000 ah ***** youre right, i mustve missed that caveat in my excitement 😩 looks like nintendo arent as with the times as i'd hoped

Now that explains why Gold Coins are discontinued casue in 1 month's time we be able to lend Digital Games to family members via physically meeting each other, so if Gold Coins existed after this announcement everyone would be spending those Gold Coins on more worth it games now! xD

@Kiz3000

I'm honestly not sure. I'm obviously not going to question your experience, but in my experience I do exactly the same thing, but there has never been a time both consoles couldn't play the same game at the same time, with both of us online, regardless of who started playing first. We play Splatoon together all the time, online, on the same team, with one digital copy of the game.

Maybe it's something not obvious, like how our NSO accounts are set up? <Shrug>.

The ONLY thing that we couldn't do together is local online play. Online play over the internet works fine, but if we try to set up a local connection, it will kick us out of the online lobby.

I still wonder how the transition of my digital library on my Switch Lite to the Switch 2 (highly probably a Switch 2 Lite in my case) will work. Lending some of my Switch (1) library to the Switch 2 for 2 weeks is not going to work for me, I'm sure (will be way to fiddly constantly "renewing" my "loans").

I have thought of "jail breaking" my Switch Lite when I (hopefully) get my Switch 2 Lite and use it solely as a Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator if possible (the Fuse emulator on PSP IS great - just too bad the screen is very small - for some games at least it can be very hard to see small bullets because of the games's often rather monochrome nature).

@SViper Right. Now that people can lend digital titles in an easier fashion, a lot of people may sell their physical games and then buy them digitally. That would potentially have been a lot of gold coins.

And essentially the value added now is the ability to lend titles.

Feels like they are still tightening the noose of digital gaming, and DRM. I’m convinced all the more to stick with 100% physical games. Always mine, online or offline, to play how and when and where I want.

@Dm9982

Xbox lets you play any digital game owned by any person who has EVER logged onto your "home" console. So if you have a family of 100 people, and they all log into your home console, you have access to 100 game libraries at any given time. The only limit is that you can't play a game from the library if the person you are borrowing it from is signed in. If they sign in while you are playing, you get a countdown to log out of the game. You also need to be online, obviously.

For many games, you can even play the game they bought on one console (for example, a series X) on your series S or on PC. That's limited to games that support "play anywhere", but it's still really fantastic.

Game Pass also lets you share with one other person with an "offline" account. That account needs to log in once every 30 days, but beyond that, can play any Game Pass game in offline mode without interfering with the other person playing at the same time. Given that limitation, I think this is more of a "hack" then a feature, but it still works.

Cool for people who buy digital games. Now maybe if they’ll let you resell them…

Most Nintendo solution to digital games library problem ever!!
And in a way, I get it. They are emulating their own primary market habits. Next step over S2 lifespan is going to be second hand digital market for rare virtual cards, facilitated by Nintendo for percentage of transaction, of course. Basically a way to still get cash stream from S1 games without having to rely on publisher sales.. mark my words

@DwaynesGames it's not that deep cause you need physically/locally be with the person to lend the game while that person must be part of your Nintendo Family and the game automatically returns back to you after 14 days, so!

@HeadPirate Yeah I know about the game sharing on Xbox and PS, this is vastly different, actually transferring the license (if only temporarily) to the other console. Exactly like popping a physical cart out and popping it in another console.

In this case the prime owner doesn’t need an account on the other console, nor does the second console need to connect to the internet to verify DRM (minus the first connection for transfer)

Xbox and Ps system fails if you remove the internet component, if the prime account signs on from another console and tries to play the game, etc etc.

Again, only Steam has done anything like this where it’s truly a license transfer and not just a “share as long as the prime account is on the system”

Edit - I did not know that game pass was shared, since I never boot my S in the sunroom / nor do my kiddos. That’s nifty!

The play anywhere thing I WISH I could take advantage of. Sadly it’s not an option for Steam Deck without dual booting windows…..

Edit 2 - You know what Nintendo should do to hop in the front of things? Start offering bulk/bundle licenses at a discount for family groups on multiplayer games like Splatoon or Monster Hunter. Most families currently buy one game copy and await for sales or a following month to purchase a second copy so the kiddos can play together…. The devs and publishers would stand to make more money initially if they offered say 2-4 licenses in bulk at a 20-30% discounted rate instead of that same family buying the first copy then waiting for half off or more for the second and beyond.

Thats probably the closest we’ll get to Download Play like they use to offer on GBA!

@Dm9982

I feel ya. Power to you if this fits you usage case. I just don't think that's going to be the case with most people.

Personally, I would say that this system is worse then what Xbox offers given that the main usage case for wanting games you can play without online DRM is people who already don't buy digital games ...

If I wanted something that worked exactly like a physical copy, I would buy a physical copy. I want something that works better and is more powerful then a physical copy, as long as I'm willing to accept an online only limitation (which I am).

At the end of the day, it's just about what limitation you feel is more reasonable. Having to be online, or having to give up that game on your console for 14 days, with no option to get it back (the person you lent it to has to send it back, or you have to wait for time to expire), and having to pick and choose games to "trade" any time you want to use the system rather then just having the option to play any game at any time.

Personally, I see the online limitation as WAY less demanding and far more accessible, so to me ... this isn't a big deal. It's a step backwards.

Edit - Haha, my wife and me have the same problem with Steam Deck.

@HeadPirate Yeah the limitations suck. But honestly I’ve got quite a few games I’ve beaten or don’t have time for currently that my daughters want to play, and if I’m playing ANY game on Switch the moment they try to log into my account it boots em.

Considering I have 4 switches between myself, wife and 2 daughters, it’s not remotely feasible to try to swap around my primary access…. So I’ve left it on my main system.

And I get that not everyone loves digital. I hated it at first. Then the lazy side of me loved not swapping carts and having to grab my bag of games…. I’ve got over 80 physical and over 500 digital on switch alone at this point.

The truth is, thanks to transfer speed limitations and game assets becoming ridiculously large, everything will eventually be digital only. We’ve already hit the max blu ray could offer us last gen when games started installing like they have on pc for years. Carts are currently the only capable physical medium of hitting the necessary transfer speeds, and that’ll be hit within the next generation or so unless Sandisk or someone pulls some magic out of their backside….

@HeadPirate The first half of the video literally says you only need to locally connect systems once and then you'll be able to freely swap between two systems you own.

You're right it's a very different use case, but there are people who this will potentially be beneficial for. And you can always just turn it off in the system settings if the old method is preferable.

@T0mizawa
thankyou that clears a lot of things up.

It looks promising. But currently I can play a digital game on 2 switches simultaneously with 2 different accounts. I hope they don’t take this away.

@YaGirlSkyByte You can share the game with the members of your family plan.

@RenanKJ Yeah that's an annoying thing I didn't like that they forced on us with the primary switch feature. I also hate it because it caused a bug on my brother's profile where his profile has to automatically constantly check if he has to login in to his account and check if he can connect to internet. I tried to get it fixed and I looked it up and I'm not the only one. But I had to remove his account from my switch because it would do that thing everytime I turn on switch.

Um ... maybe im simple but, I dont get it??? If your already know your personally going to play a game on a specific system, why would you need or want to install it on another system. The Switch is portable anyway. Its not like most people need a Switch for docked mode and a 2nd Switch to use as a portable. ... um ... I already share digital games between mine and my son's Switches? "Now you can play the game on the 2nd system whenever you want" ... how is this useful? ... you can already can do that on the your 1st Switch console? If youve got 2 Switches that play the same games, why would anyone think ... "I know, i'll play it on my 2nd Switch tomorrow ...just coz". Is this virtual gamecard thing because they are going to stop selling physical cards? "You can load and eject and organize games on your system"! I can already do that without the need to keep virtually "inserting" and "ejecting" them. I don't see how this benefits someone like me, who's games are all digital anyway, at all. Is this just a DRM ploy dressed up as an advantage but actually tightening up on account/gamesharing... are Ninty removing my ability to gameshare with my son ie, buy one game Splatoon 3 for eg, and be able to play it online simulataneously on 2 consoles which I already do. Something fishy here.

@HeadPirate I think you are jumping the gun. They don’t say anywhere that you can’t keep doing things the old way. So far it seems this is a different new optional feature. They haven’t said it replaces the old family sharing.

Also as the other commenter said, in my experience and what is posted in Nintendo’s guide, if you only own one copy of the game, only one copy can be played. When you connect to the internet it checks to see if someone is already using a copy of the game. I have a family with 4 Switches and this has always been the case with every game for us. If you were getting around this somehow, that doesn’t mean Nintendo is now suddenly taking something away if they fix an exploit. Nintendo doesn’t have the right to let you play 2 copies of a third party game if you only bought 1 copy. They would get sued by the rights holders of the game for distributing free copies and not paying licensing fees.

So in the end, all that was shared in the Direct is that something new is coming. Grabbing your so called pitch fork before you know you if you are losing anything or because a bug was fixed is a bit silly.

As someone with 1 switch who mostly buys physical, I’m reading things in this comment section I’ve had zero idea about for 8 years. You could use one digital copy to play the same game on 2 switches, online together at the same time? What the hell?

If we want physical games to still exist, digital games should be equivalent to them and not outright superior. That loophole sounds insane. That said, they should do more local wireless play off one copy like they dabbled with on the 3ds.

Better than nothing though it seems quite limited. Maybe it'll expand and evolve in the future

@RupeeClock @HeadPirate
I agree this is more restrictive. My kids can play Splatoon together using our main console (with multiple accounts set as its primary console) and my son's own Switch Lite (where it was set as his secondary console) where we bought Splatoon 3.

With the new system, Splatoon 3 "virtual cart" can now only be played with 1 console at once. Not to mention my son's Switch Lite needs to be updated every 15 days now.

@HeadPirate Not quite. The 14 day thing is for lending the game to other accounts, provided that they are in your Family Group. Making it pretty much useless.

The virtual eject and insert of digital games means that before you start playing on your 2nd console, you have to go over to your 1st console, online, eject it, then go to your 2nd console, online, and insert it. How this is better than playing it whenever you want on your primary, and one-at-a-time on your secondary console(s) online is completely beyond me.

Thankfully, there's an account setting to disable this whole thing, presumably restoring the old way of doing things (see the fine print at the end of the video). I will definitely exercise that option for my account, which is also logged in to my niece & nephew Switch consoles, located across the country and definitely not in range of local wifi.

@PloverNutter Was playing the same game on multiple consoles at once the only benefit of digital? I don't think so.

@Member_the_game I remember when one Xbox console (One?) announced they were going to make transferring physical games a bureaucratic process.
Sony then made a video mocking them by showing one guy just handing the game case to another.
Microsoft had to back-peddle on that very quick.

@swoose Yup. Can do it on 2 Switches where the games buying account is on both systems. You just have to make sure your primarysecondary console settings are correct.You can do it on Xbox One/SeriesX and PS4/5 too. Ps4/PS5 is even better. When PS5 was released Playstation counted it as a new echo system (unlike Series X) so if you already shared games between two PS4s you could add a PS5 too meaning, with that configuration (2Ps4s + 1PS5) you can game share between 3 Playstations and play them all online at same time.

@StewdaMegaManNerd That posted suggestion is exactly what the piracy scenes have done as long as consoles have existed.

@Zverik Probably so they can't permanently walk off with your game.
Better than when you lend a physical game to a friend, and then the friend breaks up and won't return your game. So you need to buy another copy (yes, you could try legal action but the former is typically the more effective solution).

@KingMike Yeah, I don’t know why I was hoping for that.

I think it’s obvious they’re announcing this now because they intend to unveil a Switch 2 model that is digital only along side one that excepts cartridges. So they can offer a cheaper model, for one. I don’t believe the fear mongers saying this means the card slot will except Switch 1 only and there won’t be physical Switch 2 games.

@Baker1000

I've head this theory a lot, and I have no insider information so maybe it's the case, but the economy of it makes no sense.

It's optical drives that allows digital only units to be sold at a lower cost. Optical drives are expensive, the one in the Xbox is around $15 wholesale and the one in the PS5 is about the same. They are also the single largest point of fault within warranty, leading to a lot of repairs the manufacturer has to pay for. That's why the digital console is cheaper; no optical drive.

Card readers cost pennies and do not break.

So while Nintendo might offer a digital only console, I can't imagine it would be cheaper. It might come with a better form factor or some other features to make it attractive, provided they do not increase the cost, but it just doesn't make any sense to remove a card slot that has basically zero cost to make a sku that you're selling for a lower price and less margin.

I don't like this at all. Good thing I don't have any Ninfriend'os xD

I’m confused sorry, here’s my situation. I have two Switch consoles, one in the lounge, one in my office. I’ve purchased digital titles and some of these are downloaded on both Switch consoles under my profile, so I can choose to play them in the lounge or in my office.

Will this update still allow me to play the digital games I’ve bought under my profile on two consoles? I appreciate the sharing of a game with members of my family group, I can this being useful, but I like to be able to play the same game under my profile on two different Switch consoles if I wanted to, will I still be able to do that?

This is an overly convoluted system to encourage people to buy the same game on multiple consoles they own or their family owns. Why pass on hardships to the consumer?

Why not just allow Steam Family Sharing and undo the local network restrictions on sharing altogether?

This is anti-consumer and it will harm Nintendo as the inevitable backlash will come with the Switch 2 launch.

Nintendo will have to figure out another system.

I have already stopped myself from buying multiple new Switch consoles for this very reason.

All my consoles should allow me to play my entire library without any issues by default.

I heard the explanation, but I'm trying to see if this will be useful to me. Once I get Switch 2, I'm transferring EVERYTHING to it from Switch 1, then giving my Switch 1 to my mom, and she doesn't play what I play. So... time to wait for more info.

@cra1g0s: It looks like you will still be able to do that, yes. One part of the Virtual Game Card trailer on YouTube points out a setting you'll be able to adjust to allow the console to just connect online to check if a game is valid to play on the console you're currently using.

Basically, it seems you'll be able to keep juggling two consoles the way you currently do, even after the Virtual Game Card functionality is added. The new feature is just an extra option for people who want to make use of it.

That's how I'm interpreting it anyway. 🤞

@Baker1000 that’s why we should stay calm and wait for official announcement

@Kiyata I think you’re overreacting, i understand that you feel companies shouldn’t hold games hostage but this is just game sharing

@McBurn i’m not defending nintendo or anything but you don’t have to act like a smartass

@Baker1000 also, i rather not make assumptions about things we don’t know yet

This throws me back to Blockbuster era of renting games and movies.

the only think I'm still unsure about
is if the digital games you already own, will automatically be changed into these Virtual Game Cards

I assume they will

Unsure how this will play once its out, but it does open the possibility of Nintendo opening a GamePass/PS Plus catalogue, but instead of paying a subscription you rent the game just like you used to do in the long distant past.

1) This is OPTIONAL and can be toggled off/on in settings

2) This is superior to the system we have now for lending games as you cannot currently do that

3) This is both superior and inferior to the alternative option of using a secondary system and having it check internet each time you play. If you want to play offline for long periods of time without an internet check, virtual cart is superior. If you're swapping back and forth games all the time, probably best to just use the current setup.

All in all, this is a W. You're not forced to use it, and it only adds the option to lend digital games to family members and adds the option to play on a secondary console without internet checks each time you launch.

@Ghaznavi
convoluted system to encourage people to buy the same game on multiple consoles

With respect, I think you should rewatch the trailer. In no way does sharing games encourage buying multiple copies. On the contrary, it encourages not buying multiple copies. The whole point of sharing is allowing someone to play without them buying a separate copy.

As for being convoluted, I'm not sure how you'd make the process of sharing more simple than pressing a button to send a game from your console to another's. As for using on a secondary console, it offers a way to play without internet checks. But if you're fond of the current system, you can keep using it. This is an optional setting.

@RupeeClock Did they say anywhere that the old Primary/Secondary account integration would stop working?

I didn't catch that, not even in the virtual card info page from their official site.

I thought this was more of an alternative way, not replacing the current existing mechanics, of making a console in your family group have a game without checking online without use for max 2 weeks in a row, while the game being unplayable everywhere else of course.

@cra1g0s I don't see anywhere they said the current Primary/Secondary consoles mechanic would stop working.

So this sounds completely optional. And it's more for what it actually says: Lending a game to another console, where the game will be used without internet checking for 2 weeks, while disabling the game everywhere else.

I hate it. Why do they have to do things so strangely? Don’t reinvent the wheel on everything. Apply the “kiss” principle we adhere to in the programming world: “Keep It Simple Stupid”.

My opinion. Call off your wolves.

@HeadPirate
I've heard some people mention that they are able to have both consoles playing online, the same game, at the same time.
Every time I have attempted this it kicks the secondary console out.
Looking at your comments I believe I just realized how you are able to make it work.
Could you let me know if on the primary console, is the user using another account/profile to launch the game?

@HeadPirate
If my idea is correct, this is how it works:
You have to set up your personal Switch as secondary and download your games.
The one you give your significant other has to be the primary. Using your account download all of your games. Your SO can play your games using their profile because they are on the primary console.

The secondary console kept getting kicked out because I had the primary console. The secondary console cannot play the downloaded games using another profile. They are forced to use the "main/purchasing" account. The moment the primary console goes online and opens the game in that account it kicks out the secondary. This would explain why even when it's not the same game it still kicks out the secondary console. Nintendo does not check to see if 2 Switch are using the same digital game, they check to see if 2 consoles are using the same profile. That must be the loophole you are exploiting.

I understand this move by Nintendo seems anti-consumer to you but it is actually bringing digital on par to physical because in all honesty only 1 console should be able to open the game a time.
In addition, contrary to what you believe, there is actually a use case for you. With the current set-up the secondary console must always be online to play the downloaded games which makes it useless for handheld gaming on the go. However, with the Virtual Cartridge you can keep specific games on a specific console and launch it even when offline. It's not like it's tie to that console forever, you could always transfer it back.

I will say it is a major detriment that you can only lend games to people in the family group. This severely limits sharing. It should be anyone who is considered a friend aka friend codes.
I understand (not endorse) the limitations of having to transfer in person, only 1 game at a time and 2 weeks lending.
At least you can lend out games to different people at a time!

@Kiz3000
Look at my comment above, I think figured out the limitation is different profiles.
If additionally, it does check the license then it would make sense that the secondary opens the game first.

@user0 Are you sure? How is that different from the way it is now? I don't think lending is the main feature of this functionality.

This deal is worse. Bow to your corporate overlords.

@donv2135: I'm mostly just making fun of myself and joking around so don't loose your cool over it, buddy. Also thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not acting. I AM a smart ass, a very smart one!

@AussieMcBucket

In the video once the transfer was complete there was a message saying "Received virtual game card. You can play as soon as the download is ready".

I’ve been so confused by other peoples confusion.

For one thing there was definitely fine print that indicated this whole new system is optional so regardless of what you think it’s not really a negative. I’m copying it here:

“By navigating to User Settings -> Online-License Settings and turning the setting to ON you can instead opt to connect to the internet to start up software.”

I think it’s a net win on the whole. Say when I get a Switch 2 and maybe the screen is not OLED or just for casual use I like my Switch 1 because it’s a little smaller or any other reason while playing something like Famicom Detective Club I would rather just use my OLED Switch over a Switch 2. I can just put that game on my Switch OLED without affecting my ability to play the new Mario on Switch 2 and don’t have to constantly deal with internet authorization or swapping my primary console back and forth.

@somebread I assume keeping it local stops pirates sending to cloned switches copying and then forwarding on for cash to other users. If you can only transfer with family group via local this issue is shut down.

Cool, but you could never sell your digital copies, so what's the point? Might as well might a physical copy to share until you wish to sell it.

I knew it, still no proper account system. Just store all our purchases in a proper account, so we can re-download them all on every Nintendo system! Not this nonsense, Nintendo never learns.

No matter how hard the industry tries. Physical copies are the only way. Otherwise you own nothing. Nintendo can decide at any moment to close them down and make them unavailable.

@user0 I guess I was/am hoping that it's a smaller load instead of the full file download that can sometimes take multiple hours. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but hopefully you get my meaning. If I take out a card and put it in another system, I can play it right away, typically.

@Henmii Nintendo wants to be able to sell you the same games over and over and over because they know there are many people gullible enough to do it.

@Koffeeking0407

So true!

@YaGirlSkyByte I THINK it works cross-accounts