Virtual Game Cards digital games management system announced for Switch, Switch 2
Easily manage your purchased digital games
Nintendo has announced the Virtual Game Cards digital games management system for Switch and Switch 2. It is a new system that aims to simplify digital game management and enable players to lend or borrow games between multiple Nintendo Account family group members. It will launch for Switch in late April as a system software update, and will be available on Switch 2 at launch.
Here are the details:
Virtual Game Cards Make Digital Games Even Easier to Use
The virtual game card feature for Nintendo Switch* and Nintendo Switch 2 systems adds some of the flexibility of physical game cards to your digital game library!
If you have two systems, you can digitally eject and load games from one system to another—and you can even lend games to members of your Nintendo Account family group.
—Open the HOME Menu and select Virtual Game Cards.
—View your digital game library. (Virtual game cards may not be available for demos and some Nintendo Switch Online member exclusive games.)
—Select the game you want to load—and start playing as soon as the game data is downloaded!
Move Your Games Between Systems
If you have two different systems linked to the same Nintendo Account**, you can choose which system to play it on—just like with a physical game card. Simply eject the virtual game card from one system and load it onto the other.
Once a virtual game card is loaded to a system***, not only can you play it without an internet connection, but other user accounts on the system can play, too.
You can also manage and load virtual game cards via your Nintendo Account on the Nintendo website.
Lend Games to Members of Your Nintendo Account Family Group
You can also lend out virtual game cards to your Nintendo Account family group members. Just connect to your family group member’s system via local wireless when you want to lend a game. Both systems must also be connected to the internet.
You can lend one game per account for 14 days (unless the borrower returns it earlier).
After the game is returned the borrower will still have their save data, so they’ll be able to start where they left off if they borrow again or purchase the game.
Both local wireless and internet communication are required for lending software. Please note that some games, such as games available only as part of a Nintendo Switch Online membership, cannot be lent out.
*Available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model systems in late April 2025. A system update is required to use this feature on Nintendo Switch systems.
**Compatible systems must be linked to a Nintendo Account to use virtual game cards. Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games can only be loaded on a Nintendo Switch 2 system. To move virtual game cards between two systems, you must pair the systems via local wireless and an internet connection, but only when pairing the systems for the first time. Up to two systems total can be linked per Nintendo Account.
*** An internet connection is required the first time you start a game that you have loaded to your system. An internet connection is also required each time a loaded title is ejected.
