Nintendo Switch Update Closes Popular Game Sharing Loophole

The latest Nintendo Switch system update has introduced a new feature, the Virtual Game Cards, in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2 launch. This update, however, has closed a previously used method for playing the same digital game online across two different systems simultaneously.

As reported by Eurogamer, Switch users could previously access a game on their primary console and play it online while another person, logged into the same account on a different Switch, played the same game. This practice, considered a loophole, has been eliminated with the implementation of the Virtual Game Cards system.

"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, as long as one of the Switches is offline, the same game can still be played on two different Switches at the same time. Eurogamer confirmed the effectiveness of this workaround. The key change is that the ability to play the same game online simultaneously on different consoles is no longer available.

The community has expressed dissatisfaction with this change. On platforms like ResetEra and Reddit, users are voicing frustration over the disruption to their previous game-sharing setups. The loss of the ability to play online together is particularly irksome, as it impacts family and group gaming sessions, especially for popular titles like Splatoon or Minecraft.

For families with multiple children interested in playing the same game, this update means potentially doubling their game expenses. The removal of this loophole, while technically justified, has been a useful feature for many, and the new system has already sparked frustration among users.

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