Nintendo Virtual Game Cards: What Are They and How to Use?

On March 27, Nintendo Direct introduced Virtual Game Cards, a new feature designed to streamline digital game management on the company’s upcoming platform. This announcement, coinciding with growing excitement for the Switch 2, signals a shift in how players will access and organize their digital titles. However, for the uninitiated, the concept might be a bit complex. To help you, we have compiled a handy guide explaining Nintendo Virtual Game Cards on the Switch and Switch 2. So with that, let’s break it all down.

What are Nintendo Virtual Game Cards?

Nintendo Virtual Game Cards are the company’s solution to bring the flexibility of digital game cards to the Switch’s digital library. While physical game cards can be swapped between Switch consoles with ease, digital downloads have lacked similar portability. As such, the new Virtual Game Cards will try to eliminate that problem.

So, just like purchasing a traditional video game cartridge, this will be a version for digital downloads. Nintendo Switch users can access this feature through a hardware system update that is expected in late April. After its release, Nintendo Virtual Game Cards will be fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.

How to Use Nintendo Virtual Game Cards

With the help of Virtual Game Cards, you can easily load into any of your digitally purchased games. Remember that demos or Nintendo Switch Online member-exclusive games may not be available in the Game Cards library. With that, here is how you can use the Nintendo Virtual Game Cards:

• Turn on your Switch device and select the Virtual Game Cards option.
• Select the account from which you bought the game card.
• Click on the purchased game and press the Load on This System button.
• After the loading is done, press OK and start the game.

Load Game Card On Different Devices

One key concern for digital downloads on Nintendo is switching devices. Thankfully, the new system will eliminate that concern. With Virtual Game Cards, you can seamlessly switch between systems linked to your Nintendo Account. So, like a physical cartridge, you can ‘eject’ the game card from one console and ‘load’ it onto another.

Once loaded, the game is playable offline and accessible to all user accounts on that system. You can also manage your Virtual Game Card library directly through your Nintendo Account on the website. Initial system pairing for card transfers requires local wireless and internet access.

Virtual Game Cards require a linked Nintendo Account on both systems. Switch 2 exclusive and ‘Edition’ titles are restricted to Switch 2 hardware, which means you cannot use some specific title game cards on your Switch or Switch OLED models if you bought them for Switch 2. A maximum of two systems can be linked to each Nintendo Account.

How to Lend Games In Nintendo Family Group

With the arrival of Virtual Game Cards, Nintendo will now let you lend games to up to eight family group members. You can lend one game per account for 14 days (unless the borrower returns it earlier). Once they return, the saved data will remain intact for both the lender and the member who borrowed the game card.

Certain games that are part of a Nintendo Switch Online membership will not have a lending feature. If you want to lend games in your Nintendo account family group, here is the simple step-by-step process:

• Connect your family devices using local wireless (while both have an internet connection).
• Click on a game and select the Lend to Family Member option.
• Select the family member you want to share the game with.
• Click the Lend button, and the member can access the game.

And just like that, your family members will be able to use your Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 titles.

That is everything you need to know about the Nintendo Virtual Game Cards. Will you use this new feature to try out the best Switch games on the Switch 2? Do tell us in the comments below!