Nintendo's newly introduced Virtual Game Card (VGC) system is now operational with the latest Switch update, providing users with the ability to keep their game collections private. For those who prefer to keep certain titles under wraps, the VGC system allows you to hide your Virtual Game Cards from your acquired list on Nintendo's portal. This feature ensures that any games you choose to hide will not be visible to others browsing your VGC list, offering a layer of privacy for whatever reasons you might have.
I personally tested this feature and successfully hid games such as the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games would still show up on my OLED Switch if installed or loaded, they would disappear from the list once uninstalled. This functionality can be accessed by navigating to the "Redownload Software" section in your games list. To view the hidden games, you'll need to go to the "Can't Find Software?" section and log into your Nintendo account, where the hidden games will be stored in a separate folder.
This new system is live on the Switch ahead of the Switch 2's launch. The same privacy options are available on the Nintendo website, where hidden games are tucked away behind the "Can't Find Software?" option. While this method may seem a bit cumbersome as you need to unhide and reload games to play them, it could serve as a useful parental control feature. For instance, if you're sharing a console and want to keep games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach, this feature could be beneficial. Additionally, if you have some titles you'd rather not display at social gatherings, this could be a discreet solution.
It's worth noting that even when hidden, the system still records play activity. For example, my account showed that I was playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I booted it up. Beyond the privacy enhancements, the latest update also includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature for the upcoming Switch 2, and the closure of a popular game sharing loophole. For more details on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can explore further here.
