Virtual Game Cards are Nintendo’s new way to share Switch games digitally

Nintendo Switch Firmware Update 20.0.0 Just live, it’s now possible for players to share the game with other console owners more easily. Virtual Game Cards is a new digital catch-all term that covers downloaded games, free software, or DLC (additional game content) and allows you to exchange from one console to the next. This new update will make it easier to share your downloaded games with others, but you don’t have to share them with friends over the internet as you need to be close by.

in front of Nintendo Switch 2Released on June 5th, this could be one of the last software updates of the original Switch before the successor was released.

Until Tuesday, if you want to share a digital version of the Nintendo Switch game with a friend, that wasn’t easy. The main drawback here was that only the primary users could play shared games offline, while the secondary had to always have an internet connection.

However, now Nintendo has a new system for lending digital games. Shareable software is now represented by virtual game cards. This reduces some of this hassle by sharing full access to the game with new users. Updating to a new switch firmware will cause the user to provide a new virtual game card icon in the home menu. From there you can select the game (or DLC) you want to share.

read more: I’ve played all the Switch 2 games: Looking forward to it after April 24th

There are two options for how to share the game. The first is loading the other system, and the second switch must be linked to the main system. This is similar to the original primary/secondary system where you need to set up and share your Nintendo account on both devices.

The second option is rented to a family group member and uses the family group set up on the Nintendo Switch Online Family Plan. To do this, you need to link the two switch consoles together.

There are some important limitations to keep in mind when using the Lend to Family Group member option: The first is that you can borrow a virtual game card for up to 14 days. You will then automatically return to the lending system. It also means that you cannot access that game/DLC while the original system is on loan. Finally, players can borrow one game card per borrower, allowing only up to three borrowers at a time, and borrowers can borrow only one game card at a time. Therefore, you cannot fill the Switch with games borrowed from your family.

It is still unclear how useful this system will be compared to previous versions. This allows you to play borrowed games offline, but unlike before, it prevents multiple people from playing copies of the same game at the same time. This appears to be Nintendo is preparing the console for the Switch 2 to finally launch, with the addition of more robust game sharing features.