Nintendo has rolled out a new system update for the Switch, introducing the Virtual Game Cards feature in anticipation of the Switch 2 launch. This update, however, has put an end to a popular method that allowed players to enjoy the same digital game online on two different systems simultaneously.
As highlighted by Eurogamer, before this update, Switch users could leverage the primary console to launch a game and play it online, while the game's owner could also play on another Switch. This loophole has been effectively closed with the introduction of the Virtual Game Cards system.
Despite this change, users have found a workaround. By going offline, you can still play a single copy of a digital game across two 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 play the same game simultaneously on two Switches. Eurogamer has tested and confirmed that this system functions as described. The significant change is that the loophole for playing the same game online at the same time has been closed.
The gaming community has expressed dissatisfaction with this change, with users on platforms like ResetEra and Reddit voicing their frustration over the disruption to their previous game-sharing setups. The inability to play online simultaneously is particularly irksome, as it affects families and groups who enjoy games like Splatoon or Minecraft together.
For families, this means potentially doubling the cost of games if multiple children want to play the same Switch game together. Those who previously shared games will now need to purchase additional copies. While this update closes a loophole, it was a beneficial one for many, and it's understandable that users are already expressing frustration with the new system.
This update comes just over a month before the launch of the Switch 2, which will also implement the same system. Additionally, the Switch 2 will use Game-Key Cards, meaning that a significant number of games will not have the full game on the cartridge and will require an online download to play.
