Nintendo introduces Virtual Game Cards to share your Switch games

Nintendo is changing the way digital games work in its Nintendo Switch systems, introducing a new method that aims to replicate the act of using a physical game cartridge. The new feature, suitably named Virtual Game Cards, was announced during the company's last Nintendo Direct event.

When gamers purchase digital games on Switch devices, they will soon receive "Virtual Game Cards" that can be used in new ways. Users will be able to load and eject these game cards using the software. More crucially, customers will be able to transfer games to other Switch systems.

Anyone with access to several Switch consoles will be able to share games using this approach. They only need to eject a Virtual Game Card from the first Switch and insert it into the other Switch using the software. However, while performing this for the first time, a local link between the consoles is required. Following that, all additional loading and ejections can be performed using a standard internet connection.

Meanwhile, same functionality is being expanded to Nintendo Family accounts. Anyone in these groups can share owned games with others by ejecting and forwarding them. However, Nintendo only allows for one share per associated family account. In addition, this lending process is timed for 14 days. After then, the game will return to the owner's Switch system. These games' save data will stay intact.

In April, all Nintendo Switch systems will be updated with new Virtual Game Cards feature. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, this will also be a launch feature for that device.