Prior to the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, and in the timely release of system firmware version 20.0, players have an alternative to the cloud-based verification method owners with multiple consoles to play their games purchased from the Nintendo e-shop, on top of which is a better way for family members to share their games with each other.
What is Virtual Game Card
A virtual game card is an abstract representation of a player's digital game and/or Downloadable Content (DLC). It's not necessarily the data, but rather the permission granted by the owner to the console to use the game/DLC. Any user on this console is permitted to play, even offline.
You need both the game data and the Virtual Game Card to play.
You can still download game data to all consoles a player owns or loans to other family members, but the receiving console can only play on one select console by loading its virtual game card, and vice versa; one cannot play the game that has loaded its virtual game card if its data is not installed.
This applies to the entire Nintendo Switch family of systems, including:
- original Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch Lite
- Nintendo Switch OLED
- Nintendo Switch 2
The previous generation of Nintendo Switch family of systems need to have their operating system firmware upgraded to version 20.0 or higher.
Prior to Firmware Version 20.0
A player who owns multiple consoles with their same Nintendo Account user had to delegate one console as the "Primary" in the Nintendo e-shop. This "Primary" console was able to, after downloading and installing, play digital games and DLC offline without verification. All other consoles owned by the player required an internet connection to start and play content.
Only the user who has purchased the content was permitted to play the downloaded software.
Not only that, but the "Primary" console has priority over all others. If the "Primary" console, with the same Nintendo Switch online account, started up to play a game, current play sessions on all other consoles are suspended until the "Primary" either disconnects from the Internet or closes their running game.
Advantages to Virtual Game Cards
There is no longer a "Primary" console delegation that has priority permission over the entire library; up to two consoles per Nintendo Switch account user can be linked for Virtual Game Cards.
All users on the console that has the loaded Virtual Game Card are permitted to play, even offline. Prior, only the user with either an Online License to their own copy of the game or the "Primary" user of the console was permitted.
Instead of one console having priority over all games, Virtual Game Card system permits these two consoles to permit offline access for different games between each other.
Exceptions
The following are downloadable content that are known to not use Virtual Game Cards:
- Nintendo Switch Online Classic Games Collections
- NES
- SNES
- N64
- Game Boy / Advance
- Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
- Gamecube
- Tetris 99
- F-Zero 99
The common trait is that subscribers' benefits to paid Nintendo Switch Online membership are not considered Virtual Game Cards.
Setup Consoles for Virtual Game Cards
Prerequisites
Only for the setup, both consoles must be in close proximity, connected to the Internet, and have the interested Nintendo Switch online account registered.
After setup, the consoles no longer need to be in close proximity to (un)load Virtual Game Cards.
Prerequisites to Loading Virtual Game Cards
Both of the user's consoles need to be powered on (or in sleep mode) and connected to the Internet.
Download Game Data
Keep in mind that Virtual Game Cards and the downloadable software, data and DLC are independent; loading a Virtual Game Card will not launch a game if the console does not have the data.
Fortunately, with this system, it's easier to order a console connected to the Internet to pre-download necessary data: use the Virtual Game Card menu from a linked console's Home Menu, or the Account Home page on Nintendo's Website.
Access and (Un)Load Virtual Game Cards
Virtual Game Cards are best easily accessed from the Virtual Game Card menu from one of the linked console's Home Menu.
Alternatively, use the Account Home page on Nintendo's Website.
Using the same behavior as prior to Firmware Version 20.0
The previous feature is retained in "Online License Settings". It may be disabled by default after updating the firmware. To re-enable:
- From a Nintendo Switch Home menu, go to the interested User's Page (on the top-left).
- Left side, User Settings
- Under Nintendo Account, go to Online License Settings
- Turn "Use Online License" On.
- Afterwards, the next time this User connects to the Nintendo eShop via the applet from the Home Menu, that console will be designated as the Primary console.
- This console can be revoked its Primary status from the Nintendo eShop applet, found near the bottom of its Settings page.
This only needs to be enabled from one of the consoles that a user owns. The behavior is retained across all consoles on which the User exists.
Although it's only recommended to use this setting for more than two consoles (especially when one requires an Internet connection for most games anyway), enabling this feature and loading all Virtual Game Cards on a dedicated "Primary" console will retain the same behavior as before the new Virtual Game Card feature was released.
What about DLC?
Specifically, what would happen if only one family member.
I believe the answer is that the Virtual Game Card from the user who purchased the DLC should permit other consoles and users loaned their game should permit them to use the downloadable content, simply by loading that card. This needs confirmation, sometime in the future...
