Nintendo Switch Update Closes Popular Game Sharing Loophole

Nintendo has rolled out a significant system update for the Nintendo Switch, introducing the innovative Virtual Game Cards system in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2 launch. This update, however, has put an end to a popular method that allowed users to play the same digital game online across two different systems simultaneously.

As reported by Eurogamer, the previous loophole enabled the primary console owner to play a game online while another user accessed the same game on a different Switch. The introduction of the Virtual Game Cards system has effectively closed this loophole.

Despite this change, there's still a way to play a single copy of a digital game by going offline. By navigating to your profile's user settings and enabling the Online Licenses option, you can play a digital game without the Virtual Game Card, provided it's not being played elsewhere or the Switch in use is set to offline mode. The description of this setting is as follows:

"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, it's still possible to play the same game simultaneously on two Switches. Eurogamer has confirmed that this workaround is functional. The key change is that the ability to play the same game online at the same time is no longer available.

The gaming community has expressed dissatisfaction with this change. Discussions on forums like ResetEra and Reddit reveal frustration among users who relied on the previous game-sharing setups. The inability to play online simultaneously is particularly irksome, with many citing games like Splatoon and Minecraft as examples of family and group play.

For families, this change could mean doubling the cost of purchasing games if multiple children want to play together on their Switches. Those who used to enjoy family gaming sessions will now need to buy additional copies of games. Although it's a loophole that's been closed, it was a beneficial one, and it's understandable that users are frustrated with the new system.

This update comes just over a month before the launch of the Switch 2, which will also implement the Virtual Game Cards system. Additionally, the Switch 2 will use Game-Key Cards, meaning many games will require an online download to play, as the full game won't be included on the cartridge.