Nintendo Unveils Virtual Game Card System to Conceal Game Cards

Nintendo has rolled out its new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system with the latest Switch update, providing users with an enhanced level of privacy over their game collection. Now, Switch owners can hide their Virtual Game Cards from the prying eyes of others, offering a discreet way to manage their game library.

As demonstrated by a user on X/Twitter, you can conceal your Virtual Game Cards on Nintendo's VGC portal. This means that any games you choose to hide won't appear in your list of acquired Virtual Game Cards, catering to those who wish to keep certain titles under wraps.

I personally tested this feature and successfully hid games such as Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games will still show up on your OLED Switch if they're installed or loaded, they disappear from the list once uninstalled.

To access your hidden games, navigate to the "Redownload Software" section of your games list, and then proceed to the "Can't Find Software?" section after logging into your Nintendo account. This will reveal your hidden games in a separate folder, both on your console and the Nintendo website.

If you're looking to keep certain games out of sight, perhaps for sharing consoles or to prevent certain titles from being noticed by others, you can use this feature to tuck them away. However, it's worth noting that the process can be somewhat cumbersome, as you'll need to unhide and reload games to play them again. Additionally, my account still showed activity for Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I started playing it.

This feature could serve as a useful parental control option, perhaps to keep games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach from younger players. It might also appeal to those who prefer to keep certain titles private, especially in social settings.

With the latest update, you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards, enjoy redesigned icons, utilize the system transfer feature in preparation for the upcoming Switch 2, and navigate the changes to game sharing. For more details on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can read further here.