Sharing digital games has become increasingly relevant with their rising popularity. While physical game cartridges still exist, downloading offers greater convenience. This has led to questions about sharing within digital libraries. Xbox and PlayStation have their own game sharing systems, and now Nintendo introduces Virtual Game Cards, a new way to share games with more people, more easily. While the concept may seem complex, this guide will break down everything you need to know about sharing your next Switch title.
A switch with Virtual Game Cards.
Understanding Virtual Game Cards
Virtual Game Cards allow you to share digital games from your library with anyone. Functioning like physical game cards, you can “lend” a game to another person for a limited time before it returns to you. Upon release, every digital game purchased will come with a Virtual Game Card, offering a new method for managing and sharing your digital Switch library.
How Virtual Game Cards Function
Virtual Game Cards are added to a new section on your Switch home screen after purchasing a digital game. Each profile has its own Virtual Game Card library for loading, unloading, and sharing games on the console. You can freely manage cards between two Switch consoles linked to the same account or through the Nintendo Website.
Sharing Limitations
There are limitations to sharing with Virtual Game Cards. Firstly, both users must be on the same local Wi-Fi network to transfer games. Sharing with friends across town or the country isn’t currently possible.
Secondly, borrowers can only play a lent game for up to 14 days before it automatically returns to the owner. The borrower can play anywhere, even offline, after the transfer. You can only lend one game at a time to each person. Importantly, saved data remains on the borrower’s console even after the game returns, allowing them to continue their progress if you lend the game again or they purchase it themselves.
Lending to Family Members
To lend a game to a Family Group member:
- Connect to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Select the game from your Virtual Game Card menu.
- Choose “Lend to Family Member.”
- Select the recipient account.
The transfer will then begin, and the game will automatically return to the owner after 14 days.
