Nintendo has announced a new family sharing feature for the Nintendo Switch and its successor, introducing the Virtual Game Card system. This feature allows users to lend digital games to up to 8 family members, functioning similarly to swapping physical game cartridges. The announcement was made during the latest Nintendo Direct, where a video demonstrated how the feature will work.
How the Virtual Game Card Works
The Virtual Game Card enables players to eject a purchased digital title from one Nintendo Switch and load it onto another system within the same Nintendo Account family group or a second system tied to the same account. This new system is entirely optional, meaning it does not replace the existing method of sharing games between accounts.
Key details of the feature include:
- Game Lending: Players can lend digital games to family members via a local wireless connection.
- Time Limit: Borrowed games can be played for up to two weeks before they automatically return to the original owner’s system.
- System Compatibility: The feature will roll out via a system update in late April and will also be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch.
- Initial Setup: Family members must link their accounts and install the virtual game card locally on their systems once before enabling sharing from different locations.
What This Means for Switch Users
This new feature provides a more flexible way to share digital games, replicating the experience of swapping physical cartridges. However, some official details remain unclear, such as the exact process for enabling game sharing remotely. More information will likely be available closer to the feature’s launch in April.
For now, this update marks a significant improvement in digital game ownership and sharing, giving families more control over how they access and play their games.
