One of the non-game announcements made during the latest Nintendo Direct feels like a game-changer for digital gaming.
Pretty wild that one of the most exciting parts (for me) out of today’s Nintendo Direct wasn’t actually about a video game, but changes coming to the system(s) overall thanks to the Virtual Game Card. Here’s the quick and dirty explainer from Nintendo:
Introducing the virtual game card – a new feature for easily managing purchased digital games, playing games on two different systems, and even lending or borrowing games. Similar in concept to moving physical game cards between systems, virtual game cards make it possible to “eject” a purchased digital title from one Nintendo Switch system and “load” it onto another – whether it belongs to a member of the same Nintendo Account family group, or a second system tied to your account.
This optional feature allows you to view virtual game cards or eject them from your system. The digital game can also be lent to a Nintendo Account family group member’s system via local wireless connection. Games that you lend can then be played on a Nintendo Account family group member’s system for two weeks, after which the game will be automatically returned to you. This feature will be available on Nintendo Switch starting late April via a hardware system update. Additionally, virtual game cards will also work with Nintendo Switch 2 systems at launch.
This rules, and something I’ve been wanting for a long time now. My love of physical media is well established for a variety of reasons. For gaming, however, it’s about being able to share the experience. There was something neat about swapping cartridges with friends back in the day, giving each other the chance to enjoy/experience something new, or simply passing something over to another in the household when you were done.
Digital only games don’t really allow for that, but this new Virtual Game Card looks to solve that problem. More than just being able to have a game you’ve purchased on more than one system (something Nintendo fans have long clamored for), being able to share those digital purchases with family members is a real treat. Everyone in my house has a Switch. My youngest just got her first console this past Christmas. Being able to now share some of my favorites (some of which I wasn’t able to snag a physical copy of) without having to buy a full new copy is just all kinds of amazing.
There’s a lot of potential in this feature, especially if they figure out a system to allow sharing with friends and such. It could ultimately change the way digital gaming is handled all around…
Virtual Game Cards are coming to Nintendo Switch consoles later next month via a system update, and will work with Nintendo Switch 2 consoles at launch.
