Virtual game cards are a new way for Nintendo to share games digitally

Nintendo Switch Switch firmware update 20.0.0 has just been launched, making it easier for players to share games with other console owners. Virtual Game Cards are new terms for any digital term that can be swapped from one console to the next, covering downloaded games, free software and even DLC (added game content). This new update makes it easier to share your downloaded game with others, although they need to be near you and therefore not share it with friends over the internet.

This could be one of the last software updates to the original switch before the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5.

Until Tuesday, if you want to share a digital version of the Nintendo Switch game with friends, it's not easy – you have to specify one person as the primary switch and the other is secondary. The main drawback here is that only the primary user can play shared games when offline, and secondary always needs to connect to the Internet for gaming.

But now Nintendo has a new system to lend out digital games. Now, the shareable software is represented by a virtual game card that relieves some of the hassle by sharing full access to the game with new users. Update to the new Switch firmware will provide users with a new virtual game card icon. From there you can choose which game (or DLC) you want to share.

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You have two choices how to share the game. The first is to load on other systems, which requires a second switch to link to your main system. This is similar to the original primary/secondary system where you have to set up a Nintendo account on both devices to share.

The second option is to lend to family group members and take advantage of the family groups you might set up with the Nintendo Switch online family program. To do this, you need to link the two switch consoles together close to each other.

There are some important limitations to keep in mind when using the option to loan to family group members. First, you can borrow a virtual game card that lasts up to 14 days and then automatically return to the loan system. This also means that the original system will not be able to access the game/DLC when it is loaned. Finally, the player can only borrow one game card each time, with up to three borrowers at a time, and the borrower can only borrow one game card at a time. Therefore, you can't fill your switch with games borrowed by your family.

Comparing this system with previous versions remains to be seen. While this does allow borrowed games to be played offline, unlike before, it also prevents everyone from playing copies of the same game at the same time. It seems like Nintendo is ready for the final launch of Switch 2 by adding more powerful game sharing capabilities.