Nintendo rolls out Virtual Game Cards to Switch: cue confusion and anger from folks who can reportedly no longer play the same game online on two consoles

Unfortunately, if you were looking to play the same digital game online on two Nintendo Switch consoles, you may be out of luck. Nintendo has introduced Virtual Game Cards through a recent update for the classic Switch, which seems to have eliminated the ability to play the same digital copy on two systems simultaneously.

This change was first noticed by users on ResetEra who updated their Switch software to version 20.0.0 and attempted to play with a friend. The removal of this feature is likely due to the way Game Cards handle Switch games, as the previous method was seen as a loophole by some players.

Previously, players would log into the game owner’s account on two different Switch consoles – a ‘primary’ and a ‘secondary’ one – to play online together. However, with the introduction of Virtual Game Cards, this method is no longer possible as digital games are treated as a single cartridge.

While simultaneous offline play is still an option, it requires setting your Switch to offline mode using the new Online License option in the settings.

Many players who enjoyed playing online with friends without purchasing multiple copies of a game are disappointed by this change from Nintendo. Some are calling it a downgrade and are hoping for a solution before the release of the new console.

Although the Switch 2 has not been released yet, there is a possibility that Nintendo will address the backlash and provide an alternative solution for online play. Gameshare, a feature introduced in the recent Switch update, allows for playing some games online together via local wireless.

If you were using the previous method to share your Switch library and play online with others, share your thoughts below!