How to avoid Virtual Game Cards and use Online Licences on your Switch

The Nintendo Switch 2 is just a month and a bit away, but a new firmware update for the original Switch has some users confused about Virtual Game Cards.

Switch firmware update 20.0.0 has introduced the Virtual Game Card system on the original Switch, which Nintendo says “adds some of the flexibility of physical game cards to your digital game library”.

When I booted my Switch up, all the change meant initially is that I couldn’t play Alan Wake Remastered using my own account on the only Switch I own.

There’s two solutions to my problem, really — I could simply enable the Virtual Game Card system with one click. We’ve gone into detail on how Virtual Game Card sharing works here if you’re unaware, but in essence, it’s great for those in a single family with multiple consoles.

In my case, I’d rather just treat my Switch like any other console I own, especially since I play at home. I always have internet, I always use my own account, and it’s that account that’s purchased any game in question. For me and at present, using Online Licences is a better fit.

To use Online Licences rather than the Virtual Game Card system, go into System Settings > User Settings > [Your User] > Online Licence Settings and turn the setting to On. With this enabled, you’ll need to have an internet connection to ensure you have access to play the licence (as we don’t really own anything anymore).

As Nintendo states, “your virtual game cards can be used to play software regardless of this setting,” if enabled, and “online licences cannot be used on multiple consoles at the same time.” Finally, “the online licence and virtual game card for a software title cannot be used at the same time.”

Travelling on a plane without wifi or just in an area without an internet connection? Yeah, this one mightn’t be for you. Otherwise, have at it!