Nintendo Switch Update Closes Popular Game Sharing Loophole

Nintendo has rolled out a new system update for the Switch, introducing the Virtual Game Cards system in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2 launch. This update has notably closed a popular loophole that allowed users to play the same digital game online across two different Switch consoles simultaneously.

As reported by Eurogamer, before this update, Switch owners could launch a game on their primary console and play it online while another user, logged into the same account on a different Switch, could also play the game online. However, with the introduction of the Virtual Game Cards system, this method is no longer viable.

Despite this change, users have found a workaround. By going offline, you can still play a single copy of a digital game on two different Switches. To do this, navigate to your profile's user settings and enable the Online Licenses option. This allows you to play a digital game without the Virtual Game Card, provided it's not being played elsewhere or the Switch playing it is set to offline mode. The setting's description reads:

"If this option is enabled, purchased digital software will be playable while the console is connected to the internet, even when the virtual game card for that software isn't loaded to the console. However, when using an online licence, only the user signed into the Nintendo Account that was used to purchase the software will be able to play it; it will not be playable for other users on the console. Your virtual game cards can be used to play software regardless of this setting. Online licences cannot be used on multiple consoles at the same time. The online licence and virtual game card for a software title cannot be used at the same time."

In essence, if one Switch is offline, you can still enjoy the same game on two different Switches at the same time. Eurogamer has tested and confirmed that this system works as described. The significant change is that the ability to play the same game online simultaneously on two consoles has been eliminated.

The gaming community has expressed dissatisfaction with this change, with users on platforms like ResetEra and Reddit voicing their frustrations. The primary concern is the loss of the ability to play online at the same time, which was particularly useful for families and groups playing games like Splatoon or Minecraft together. This change could potentially double the cost for families with multiple children wanting to play the same game, as they will now need to purchase additional copies.

This update comes just over a month before the launch of the Switch 2, which will also implement the Virtual Game Cards system. Additionally, the Switch 2 will use Game-Key Cards, meaning many games will not have the full game on the cartridge and will require an online download to play.