Nintendo Virtual Game Cards Bring Retro Flexibility to Digital Switch Games
Nintendo recently dropped a bombshell. They are bringing retro flexibility back to the present day on the Switch. In among exciting game reveals, they announced "Virtual Game Cards." This system is going to change the way we share and manage our digital collections.
What Are Virtual Game Cards?
Think about this. When you buy a game from the Nintendo eShop in the near future, it will no longer be a digital file tied directly to your account. It will now be a "Virtual Game Card." This digital card will act much more like its physical counterpart. You will manage these cards through a new dedicated screen on your Switch.
Simpler Juggling Between Your Own Switches
Any owner of more than one Switch knows the frustration of the "primary" and "secondary" console configuration for digital games. It was frequently a hassle to play your own games on your secondary console because of an internet check. Virtual Game Cards are aiming to do away with this.
You will be able to virtually "eject" a game card from one Switch and "load" it on another Switch linked to your account. While you will need an internet connection briefly for the ejecting and loading process, you will not need constant online checks just to play the game on the second console from then on. When you switch for the first time between two specific consoles, you will need a local connection, but after that, it is done online. Crucially, any user profile on the Switch that is given the card can play the game, as if you had inserted a physical cartridge.
Sharing the Love: Lending Games to Family
This is arguably the most exciting part for families. The new system allows you to lend your Virtual Game Cards to other users within your Nintendo Switch Family account group. Here's how it works:
- You can lend one game at a time per family member.
- The loan period is two weeks.
- After two weeks, the Virtual Game Card is returned to your account automatically.
This replicates the process of lending a physical game, without the need to awkwardly share account logins. It's an excellent method for letting family members try out games from your library.
Timing and the Switch 2 Connection
This is not some far-off dream. Nintendo is bringing the Virtual Game Card system to the Switch with a system update in late April. Even more than that, they've already stated that they'll have this feature implemented and working on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 right out of the gate.
Though Nintendo did not say so outright, this system also appears to be ideal for making it far easier for those with big digital libraries to upgrade to the Switch 2. It would enable a smoother transfer of your purchased games from the old to the new hardware.
This is a very player-friendly move on Nintendo's part. It addresses long-time frustrations with digital game ownership on the Switch. Get ready for a whole new level of flexibility soon.
