"Nintendo Switch Update Closes Popular Game Sharing Loophole"

Nintendo has rolled out a new system update for the Switch, introducing the Virtual Game Cards system in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2 launch. This update has notably closed a popular loophole that allowed users to play the same digital game online across two different Switch consoles simultaneously.

As reported by Eurogamer, the previous method involved using the primary console to access a game online while the game's owner was logged into another Switch. However, with the introduction of Virtual Game Cards, this practice is no longer possible. Users have found a workaround, though: by going offline, you can still play a single copy of a digital game. 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 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 enjoy the same game across two Switches at the same time. Eurogamer has confirmed that this system functions as described. The significant change is that the loophole for playing the same game online simultaneously on two consoles has been closed.

The gaming community, particularly on platforms like ResetEra and Reddit, has expressed frustration over this change. Many users are upset that their previous game-sharing setups will no longer work as they did. The inability to play online at the same time is a major point of contention, especially for families and groups who enjoyed playing games like Splatoon or Minecraft together. This change could potentially double the cost of games for families with multiple children wanting to play together, as they will now need to purchase additional copies.

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 introduce Game-Key Cards, where certain games will not have the full game on the cartridge and will require an online download to play.