Nintendo is making it way easier for Switch players to share and transfer digital games with the introduction of Virtual Game Cards. This new feature, rolling out in late April 2025, gives players more freedom in managing their digital game libraries.
During the March 2025 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo gave us the rundown on how Virtual Game Cards will work. The concept is pretty straightforward: players can move their digital games between two linked Switch consoles under the same account. So, if you have a digital copy of Super Mario Party™ Jamboree on your original Switch, you can transfer it to another Switch device in your household—as long as the consoles have been paired at least once.
A dedicated management page will help users keep track of their Virtual Game Cards, making it super simple to decide where to play. This update basically brings digital games closer to the convenience of physical cartridges ("load" or "eject"). Plus, an internet connection is only needed when transferring games, so you won’t have to stay online just to play.
One of the coolest additions in this update is game sharing within Family Groups (8 members). Nintendo is now letting players lend their digital games to one family member for up to two weeks. The catch? You won’t be able to play the game yourself during that time. Only one game can be shared at a time, and consoles need to be locally linked before swapping.
This update is a game-changer for families with multiple Switch consoles. No more buying multiple copies of the same game just to keep everyone happy. Parents, in particular, will love the convenience of managing a single digital library while still sharing games with their kids.
While we don’t have all the details on how Virtual Game Cards will work with the Nintendo Switch 2 just yet, it’s pretty clear this feature was designed with the next-gen console in mind. More info is expected in the upcoming Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct next week.
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