I would really like to hear from someone at Nintendo if ejecting a game from one of your two systems also deletes the entire software, such that if you load it back onto that system later you have to download the entire game all over again - which is definitely what the wording we've seen so far suggests, but it would be nice to have a definitive yes/no. Having to redownload full games would make the ejecting/loading process *way* more time-consuming than what you get with a physical game card.
Well, I got a very confusing answer from Nintendo on a straightforward question. I think it means it applies to every game, but why not just say it does. Anyway, here's what Nintendo told me: "Virtual game card provides a new and easy way to play digital games across multiple Nintendo Switch systems, and the ability to loan them to Nintendo Account family group members."
For a second there, I thought it'd fix the use case in our house where both kids want to play a game together with their own profiles, but it seems it locks to one copy playing at once, rather than the surprisingly forgiving primary/non-primary where it lets the owner play on non-primary at the same time as the non-owner/kid on the primary switch.
On the one hand it makes a lot more sense than the current system (which honestly took me hours to figure out because it's not intuitive), but it just doesn't solve anything in our house besides being more restrictive
As a person who doesn't own any physical cards for games this is enshitification of the system. I primarily purchase these games online so I can either a) play and install the games on both switch devices at the same time or b) play co-op without having to purchase two copies of the game. Now that is out the window? To be fair I haven't turned on my non-primary Switch in like 12 months.
No, you're good. You just have to flip on the option in the settings menu for the status quo to continue. If you like your existing setup, you're fine.
Can you explain how you authenticate your non primary switch before a flight? I’ve been fiddling with switching it back to primary but didn’t know of a work around when you don’t have internet like on a flight
So, connect your Switch via phone tethering ahead of getting on the flight—I usually do this in the terminal or when I've first seated. Launch the game you want to play, which will do the handshake authentication on Nintendo's servers. Once that's done, you'll be good to play for the rest of the flight. I forget how often you need to reauthenticate? I think it's something like every 24 hours or if you power cycle the device.
Is there a reason you keep continuously referring to "carts" when all the Nintendo content you've linked about this says they're "virtual cards", as in, they're all-digital versions of the physical game cards? It's meant to make it easy to understand that you can share your games similarly to how you would share a physical game card, i.e. you can lend it out to your sister or son or friend but lending it out means you can't play it on your own device until they return it. Talking about "sharing virtual carts" seems like you've misunderstood something, or like you're trying to make some kind of point that doesn't actually come across properly. If I'm missing some clever point here, please feel free to correct me.
As the person in the house with the account on multiple switches, this solves the problem of trying to get on wifi while traveling. On the other hand, bummed that it means we'll need multiple copies of games we're playing at the same time now
I would really like to hear from someone at Nintendo if ejecting a game from one of your two systems also deletes the entire software, such that if you load it back onto that system later you have to download the entire game all over again - which is definitely what the wording we've seen so far suggests, but it would be nice to have a definitive yes/no. Having to redownload full games would make the ejecting/loading process *way* more time-consuming than what you get with a physical game card.
Has there been any indication from Nintendo that all games are eligible to be treated as Virtual Cards or only titles that the publishers opt-in?
It's a good question. I just asked Nintendo—hold tight.
Well, I got a very confusing answer from Nintendo on a straightforward question. I think it means it applies to every game, but why not just say it does. Anyway, here's what Nintendo told me: "Virtual game card provides a new and easy way to play digital games across multiple Nintendo Switch systems, and the ability to loan them to Nintendo Account family group members."
For a second there, I thought it'd fix the use case in our house where both kids want to play a game together with their own profiles, but it seems it locks to one copy playing at once, rather than the surprisingly forgiving primary/non-primary where it lets the owner play on non-primary at the same time as the non-owner/kid on the primary switch.
On the one hand it makes a lot more sense than the current system (which honestly took me hours to figure out because it's not intuitive), but it just doesn't solve anything in our house besides being more restrictive
Nope, this would not solve your problem and I think it's the one a lot of people have!
As a person who doesn't own any physical cards for games this is enshitification of the system. I primarily purchase these games online so I can either a) play and install the games on both switch devices at the same time or b) play co-op without having to purchase two copies of the game. Now that is out the window? To be fair I haven't turned on my non-primary Switch in like 12 months.
No, you're good. You just have to flip on the option in the settings menu for the status quo to continue. If you like your existing setup, you're fine.
Can you explain how you authenticate your non primary switch before a flight? I’ve been fiddling with switching it back to primary but didn’t know of a work around when you don’t have internet like on a flight
So, connect your Switch via phone tethering ahead of getting on the flight—I usually do this in the terminal or when I've first seated. Launch the game you want to play, which will do the handshake authentication on Nintendo's servers. Once that's done, you'll be good to play for the rest of the flight. I forget how often you need to reauthenticate? I think it's something like every 24 hours or if you power cycle the device.
Is there a reason you keep continuously referring to "carts" when all the Nintendo content you've linked about this says they're "virtual cards", as in, they're all-digital versions of the physical game cards? It's meant to make it easy to understand that you can share your games similarly to how you would share a physical game card, i.e. you can lend it out to your sister or son or friend but lending it out means you can't play it on your own device until they return it. Talking about "sharing virtual carts" seems like you've misunderstood something, or like you're trying to make some kind of point that doesn't actually come across properly. If I'm missing some clever point here, please feel free to correct me.
It's a very clever trick called a "typo." LOL. I just got the "cartridge" in my head and typed too fast.
As the person in the house with the account on multiple switches, this solves the problem of trying to get on wifi while traveling. On the other hand, bummed that it means we'll need multiple copies of games we're playing at the same time now
Yep, sounds like me.