Nintendo announces Virtual Game Card for Switch and Switch 2

Nintendo shared some surprising news today, announcing the Virtual Game Card. This can be used for digital games on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

After purchasing a game digitally, it’ll load on to your system. Virtual Game Cards will have a dedicated screen for this. You can load and eject these cards, allowing you to use them on another system. Local communication is required, but only the first time. Cards can be lent out to Nintendo Account Family Group members. Games can be lent out for two weeks, and then will be automatically returned to you.

Here’s the official blurb from Nintendo:

Introducing the virtual game card – a new feature for easily managing purchased digital games, playing games on two different systems, and even lending or borrowing games. Similar in concept to moving physical game cards between systems, virtual game cards make it possible to “eject” a purchased digital title from one Nintendo Switch system and “load” it onto another – whether it belongs to a member of the same Nintendo Account family group, or a second system tied to your account. This optional feature allows you to view virtual game cards or eject them from your system. The digital game can also be lent to a Nintendo Account family group member’s system via local wireless connection. Games that you lend can then be played on a Nintendo Account family group member’s system for two weeks, after which the game will be automatically returned to you. This feature will be available on Nintendo Switch starting late April via a hardware system update. Additionally, virtual game cards will also work with Nintendo Switch 2 systems at launch.

All news from today’s Nintendo Direct can be found here.