Nintendo's virtual game card system takes a little time to set up, but after that, sharing digital games between Switch consoles should be a breeze... at least under certain conditions.

Nintendo has announced a new feature coming to both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 called Virtual Game Cards that will let users to treat their digital games more like physical ones ...

Nintendo is updating how digital Nintendo Switch games work with what it’s calling Virtual Game Cards ahead of the impending launch of Nintendo Switch 2.

Summary: Nintendo has confirmed that Switch 2 games that launch as game-key cards won’t be tied to your Nintendo account. This will allow for the games to be resold, shared, and rented out.

Nintendo has confirmed that those sleek new Switch 2 game cards won’t always carry an actual game and will, instead, sometimes simply contain a key for a game download.

The Virtual Game Card makes digital games just as flexible. The company made the announcement during its Nintendo Direct event, ahead of next week’s big Nintendo Switch 2 showcase on April 2.

Even the “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” of the game will work on the original Switch — you just won’t receive the upgraded version with graphical enhancements.

Nintendo has announced a new Switch feature called the Virtual Game Card, making it easier to lend out digital games.

Games developed by Nintendo for Switch 2 will not utilize Game Key-Cards, though the option is still available for third-party games.

The Nintendo Switch 2, which launched earlier this summer, predominantly makes use of Nintendo’s new game key cards. These cards look nearly identical to traditional Switch cartridges.