Nintendo Unveils New Virtual Game Card System to Hide Game Cards

Nintendo's latest Switch update introduces the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, providing users with enhanced privacy features. With this update, you now have the ability to conceal your game cards from prying eyes, ensuring that certain titles remain hidden from your acquired list on the Nintendo VGC portal. This functionality can be particularly useful for those who wish to keep their game collection private for various reasons.

As demonstrated by a user on X/Twitter, hiding Virtual Game Cards is straightforward. I personally tested this feature and successfully hid games such as Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games still appear on my OLED Switch when installed or loaded, they disappear from the list once uninstalled.

To view your hidden games, you'll need to navigate to the "Redownload Software" section on your Switch, then go to "Can't Find Software?" and log into your Nintendo account. The same process applies on the Nintendo website, where hidden games are tucked away in a separate folder accessible through the "Can't Find Software?" option.

While the process to unhide and reload games for play is a bit cumbersome, this feature can serve as a useful parental control tool. For instance, if you're sharing your console and want to keep games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach, this could be an effective solution. It might also come in handy if you have games in your collection that you'd prefer not to display at social gatherings.

In addition to the VGC system, the latest update brings redesigned icons, a system transfer feature in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2, and it has mostly closed a popular loophole for game sharing. For more detailed information on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can explore further here.