"Nintendo Switch Update Closes Popular Game Sharing Loophole"

Nintendo Switch users, take note: the latest system update has introduced a new feature called Virtual Game Cards, set to pave the way for the upcoming Switch 2. However, this update has also closed a popular loophole that allowed players to enjoy the same digital game online across two different consoles simultaneously.

As reported by Eurogamer, before this update, Switch owners could start a game on their primary console and play it online, while another person logged into the same account on a different Switch could also play the game at the same time. This convenient method for game sharing has now been discontinued with the introduction of the Virtual Game Cards system.

Despite the change, there's still a workaround for playing a single copy of a digital game. Users have discovered that by setting their Switch to offline mode, they can still play the game on another console. To do this, go to your profile's user settings and enable the "Online Licenses" option. This allows you to play a digital game without the Virtual Game Card, provided it's not being played elsewhere or if the other Switch is offline. The setting reads:

"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 significant change is that the previous loophole for playing the same game online simultaneously has been closed.

The gaming community, particularly on forums like ResetEra and Reddit, has expressed frustration over this change. Many users are upset that their previous game-sharing setups no longer function as they did. The inability to play online at the same time is a major point of contention, especially for families and groups who enjoyed playing games like Splatoon or Minecraft together.

For families, this update could mean doubling the cost of games if multiple children want to play the same Switch game together. Those who previously shared games will now need to purchase additional copies. While this update closes a loophole, it was a beneficial one for many, and it's understandable that users are already expressing their dissatisfaction with the new system.

This update comes just over a month before the launch of the Switch 2, which will also implement the Virtual Game Cards system. Additionally, the Switch 2 will use Game-Key Cards, meaning that many games will not have the full game on the cartridge and will require an online download to play.