Nintendo Switch Update Closes Popular Game Sharing Loophole

The latest Nintendo Switch system update has rolled out, bringing with it the introduction of Virtual Game Cards, a new feature set to be implemented with the upcoming Switch 2 launch. This update, however, has closed a previously exploited method that allowed players to enjoy the same digital game online on two different systems simultaneously.

As highlighted by Eurogamer, Switch owners could formerly launch a game on their primary console and play it online, while the game's owner could also log into another Switch and play the same game concurrently. This loophole has now been addressed with the introduction of the Virtual Game Cards system.

Despite this change, users have discovered that it's still possible to play a single copy of a digital game by going offline. By navigating to your profile's user settings and enabling the "Online Licenses" option, you can play a digital game without needing the Virtual Game Card, provided it isn't being used elsewhere or the Switch playing it is set to offline mode. Here's the description of the setting:

"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."

In essence, if one Switch is offline, you can still play the same game on two different Switches at the same time. Eurogamer has tested and confirmed that this method works. The major shift, however, is that the ability to play the same game online simultaneously on two systems has been eliminated.

The gaming community is voicing its dissatisfaction with this change, with users on platforms such as ResetEra and Reddit expressing frustration over the disruption of their previous game-sharing setups. The loss of the ability to play online at the same time is particularly irksome, as it affects families and groups who enjoy games like Splatoon or Minecraft together.

For families, this change means potentially doubling the cost of games if multiple children wish to play the same Switch title together. Households that once played together will now need to purchase additional copies. While this update closes a loophole, it was a beneficial one for many, leading to understandable frustration among users.

This update comes just over a month before the launch of the Switch 2, which will also employ this system. Additionally, the Switch 2 will introduce Game-Key Cards, meaning that a significant number of games will not be fully contained on the cartridge and will require an online download to play.