Nintendo has rolled out a significant system update for the Switch, introducing the innovative Virtual Game Cards system in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2 launch. This update, however, has tightened restrictions on playing the same digital game simultaneously on two different consoles online.
As reported by Eurogamer, prior to this update, Switch owners could exploit a loophole allowing them to launch a game on their primary console and play it online, while another user, logged into the same account on a different Switch, could play it concurrently. This method has now been eliminated with the introduction of the Virtual Game Cards system.
Despite this change, users have discovered an alternative method for playing a single copy of a digital game. By going offline on one of the consoles and enabling the Online Licenses option in the user settings, players can still access their digital games without a Virtual Game Card. The setting description states:
"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."
This means that, as long as one Switch is offline, users can still play the same game simultaneously across two Switches. Eurogamer confirmed the effectiveness of this workaround. The primary change is that playing the same game online at the same time on multiple consoles is no longer an option.
The community's response to this update has been largely negative, with many expressing frustration on platforms like ResetEra and Reddit. The removal of the ability to play online simultaneously has been a significant 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 would need to purchase additional copies.
This update comes just over a month before the launch of the Switch 2, which will implement the same system. Additionally, the Switch 2 will utilize Game-Key Cards, meaning that many games will not be fully contained on the cartridge and will require an online download to play.
