Nintendo has announced a new way to share and manage Switch and Switch 2 games called the Virtual Game Card. Essentially, this whole new system gives users the ability to share game licenses with friends and family members with a convenient Game Card-like approach. It also lets you manage your games and install them across multiple consoles.
Nintendo explains that the Virtual Game Card acts like a physical card but only digitally. When you purchase a game or use an existing game, you’ll be able to install it on multiple Switch consoles and eject the game and load it on another.
So for example, if you’re playing Mario Kart 8 and it is a digital version you have purchased from the Nintendo eShop, you can load it on your main system. If you have a second system, you can eject that Mario Kart 8 from your main system and load it on a secondary system. So you can eject and load your games just like they are physical game cards.
Nintendo says Virtual Game Cards can be managed on up to two systems per account. It is as easy as ejecting your game and loading it on another. However, you’ll need to link these two systems together physically the first time you set this up.
Then there is the cool new borrowing feature. Nintendo explains that you can borrow your games out to any family member or friend as long as they are one of the eight members under the family group. When you lend out a Virtual Game Card, you’ll lose access to the game for two weeks. The person you lend it to can then enjoy the game for two weeks.
After two weeks, the game will automatically eject from their Switch console and you’ll need to lend it out again. Save data stays on the console so they won’t lose progress.
The feature is expected to go live in April across Switch consoles and will support the Nintendo Switch 2 at a later date. Here’s a rundown on how it works:
