Nintendo has revealed a new “Virtual Game Card” system that overhauls how digital games are sold and distributed on its Switch and Switch 2 consoles.
As explained during the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, games that are purchased from Nintendo’s digital eShop storefront will become “Virtual Game Cards” that can be shared and even borrowed between consoles.
For those with multiple Switch consoles connected to the same Nintendo Account, these digital cards can be swapped between systems at will. You’ll need to connect them locally the first time, but any subsequent swapping will only require an internet connection. In this way, it works like a physical cartridge that you’d move between systems, except you’re “ejecting” and “loading” it virtually.
But the greater change is that Virtual Game Cards can be shared with others in your setup of up to eight family devices. This means that you will effectively loan a “licence” to a game for 14 days, during which time another family device can play it. Only one game can be loaned at a time, and it will be “returned” to the original owner after the two-week period has ended.
Given that Nintendo games so rarely drop in price, this is certainly a great way to give families more bang for their buck, especially if they’re not able to swap physical cartridges easily.
Nintendo says Virtual Game Cards will be introduced on Switch with a system update sometime in late April, so stay tuned for more information about how to use it then.
For more on the new Direct, check out our full recap. Another surprising announcement to highlight from the showcase was Nintendo Today!, a new mobile app featuring customized news, events, calendars and more.
Image credit: Nintendo
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