Nintendo Switch introduces new virtual game cards that let us lend games to friends and family
Nintendo Switch breaks new ground by presenting a much-needed feature in today’s gaming landscape: the ability to lend digital games to friends and family.
During the latest Nintendo Direct on Thursday, March 27, 2025, among the many exciting announcements, one that stood out, aside from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, is a new Nintendo Switch feature that allows users on different accounts and consoles to share games. This innovation, called virtual game cards, is set to revolutionize how Nintendo users buy and lend digital games.
How the new Nintendo Switch game lending feature works
Though the announcement was brief, it was clear. In late April 2025, a major update to the Nintendo eShop will roll out, transforming purchased digital games into what will be called virtual game cards, designed to emulate physical cartridges. Previously, digital purchases were tied to the Nintendo account that made the purchase or to other users on the same console. Now, this new lending system will allow users to share their digital games with friends or family.
The process is straightforward, requiring only one step per loan. To lend a game, users will sync two Nintendo Switch consoles through local communication to determine which games are accessible on each device. Once a game is lent to a friend, it will be temporarily removed from the lender’s library, making it inaccessible to them. But don’t worry, it’s not gone for good. Games automatically return to the lender’s account after two weeks. Reasonable restrictions include not lending the same game to more than one person at a time.
This is fantastic news for Nintendo Switch users, especially those with fewer resources. Thanks to this new feature, many can now enjoy games at no cost by borrowing them from friends or family. With this measure, Nintendo is redefining the concept of digital ownership in gaming, adding greater value to purchases by enabling game lending. While this approach is still a step behind Steam’s family sharing feature, it’s undoubtedly a major move in the right direction.
The success of Nintendo Switch and its revolutionary hybrid concept
Nintendo Switch has achieved resounding success thanks to its revolutionary hybrid design, allowing players to enjoy games on both a home console and a portable device. This approach has not only appealed to fans of traditional consoles but also attracted a broader audience seeking gaming flexibility. With Switch, Nintendo merged its two historic product lines—portable and home consoles—into a single, unique device that has proven incredibly popular, as evidenced by more than 150 million units sold worldwide.
For over three decades, Nintendo has dominated the handheld console market, facing little serious competition. Systems like the Game Boy and Nintendo DS families have been extraordinarily popular due to their vast game libraries and innovative features, such as multiplayer via Cable Link or wireless connectivity. These successes cemented Nintendo’s reputation in the portable gaming segment. The Game Boy revolutionized the handheld market, while the Nintendo DS pushed it even further with key innovations like dual screens and a touch interface. Building on these essential features, the Switch has become the heir to these past successes, combining the best of classic portable consoles with a more traditional home console experience.
This “inherited success” has been key to the Switch’s massive impact on the gaming industry. Nintendo has expertly leveraged its decades of experience in both markets. By unifying its two traditional product lines into one device, the console has exceeded the expectations of many gamers, becoming one of the best-selling systems in history. It’s also a practical solution for many users’ gaming needs. While portable and home consoles were once entirely separate worlds, Nintendo has brought them together under one roof, creating a console that has, in every sense, redefined what we think of as a traditional gaming platform.
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