- Nintendo no longer allows two Nintendo Switch systems to simultaneously play the same digital game while it is connected to the Internet
- A new system update that added virtual game card has removed the ability to do this
- Users can still play a copy of a digital game offline through the online option setting
The new Nintendo Switch update has reportedly made it impossible for two systems to simultaneously play the same digital game online.
Nintendo has just pushed a huge switch system update ahead of the Switch 2 launch, which adds several new changes, including a feature that now refers to digital games and DLC as virtual game cards.
This feature is now available on the console’s home screen and lets users almost load and push out their software as a physical game card.
However, players now report that the feature prevents two users from playing the same digital game online at the same time, something possible before through a loophole (via Eurogamer).
Before the update, Switch games purchased on a player’s primary console could be played in another account logged into that device and the original owner could also log in and play the same game on a secondary console.
This would essentially give the owner of the game and another person the opportunity to play the game online at the same time on different devices, but the addition of virtual game cards makes this impossible.
Players can still play a copy of a digital game while offline through the online licenses option that can be found in the profile settings.
“If this option is enabled, digital software can be playable, while the console is connected to the Internet, even when the virtual game card for this software is not loaded onto the console,” reads the online license setting.
“When using an online license, only the user is logged into the Nintendo account used to buy the software that can play it, it cannot be played for other users on the console.
“Your virtual game cards can be used to play software regardless of this setting. Online licenses cannot be used on multiple consoles at the same time. The online license and the virtual game card for a software title cannot be used at the same time.”
Nintendo Switch 2 will also offer virtual game cards for some games. The console is launched on June 5, 2025 for $ 449.99 / £ 395.99 or $ 499.99 / £ 429.99 for Mario Kart World bundle.
If you want to get your hands on the new console, UK priests and US pre-orders are now live.
