Nintendo has launched firmware 20.0.0 for the Nintendo Switch and introduced its recently unveiled “Virtual Game Card” system to its console. Launching ahead of the Switch 2 this summer, Virtual Game Cards are exactly what they sound like: the ability to treat digital games as cards you can share with friends and family. One extra feature that wasn’t previously discussed has been noted in the patch notes for this firmware update: Virtual Game Cards will also apply to DLC.
With Virtual Game Cards, the games supported with the feature include any digitally purchased games, some free software, and DLC for all games. This feature will work with anyone in your Nintendo Account family group, and it even applies to online users. DLC doesn’t require the base game to be purchased digitally either, so you can lend that out to friends if they have a cartridge but haven’t purchased any add-ons. There’s also a feature similar to how PlayStation and Xbox handle digital purchases, where you can lend Virtual Game Cards out, but on your master account connected to the internet, still play said games.
As well as that useful feature comes GameShare, one of the key new features that was described in full during Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct. Similar to Virtual Game Cards, GameShare allows local Switch 2 users to share their software with other consoles to facilitate multiplayer games. One example shown was playing Super Mario Party Jamboree with only a single copy of the game across four systems, though there are bound to be other examples in the future. Strangely, the feature “cannot be used between two Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch – OLED Model and or/ Nintendo Switch Lite systems,” so it seems like you will need a Switch 2 for this.
Lastly, Nintendo has explained how system transfers will work for the upcoming Switch 2 release. In addition to the convoluted process of having two consoles connected to WiFi to transfer data, Nintendo is allowing users to upload a system transfer file to a dedicated server that can then be retrieved on your Switch 2 when you boot it up. This is so that people can trade in their current consoles without fear of losing all of their data, or for people who lose their console ahead of time. If you utilize this method, your current Switch will be factory reset, so don’t expect to have two copies of data floating around.
All around, firmware 20.0.0 is one of the most significant updates to the Switch in the last few years. Nintendo allowing a more direct method of sharing digital games is likely a move to make digital games more appealing to the masses while also giving its user base more flexibility with purchases. If only consoles adopted a system like Steam’s Family Sharing, then I think digital games would go over easier with most players.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
