Nintendo's virtual game cards ruined this player's nine-hour flight

One of Nintendo’s newest features, virtual game cards, ruined this player’s plans to get through a nine-hour flight. If you’re not familiar with Nintendo’s virtual game cards feature, which was introduced just before the Switch 2 Direct, we have written about it in more depth. But essentially, Nintendo Switch users can opt into a new digital game system. Virtual game cards mirror physical cards. They are tied to one console but can be shared locally or over the internet. This comes with some pros and cons compared to the previous system, but one major downside is it often requires an internet connection to initially set up, as this player unfortunately discovered at the wrong time.

Nintendo’s new Virtual Game Cards unintentionally ruin this player’s nine hour flight

In a post shared on the subreddit MildlyInfuriating, and initially spotted by MeinMMO, a user Saurlifi, explained: “All of sudden, Nintendo wants you to put in a “virtual game card” for games you already own. It requires internet. I find this out at the start of a 9 hour flight.” The post also shares a screenshot of the user trying to launch Slay the Spire on their Nintendo Switch, only to be stopped by a pop up, claiming “You will need to load the virtual game card to this console in order to play this software.” If this was your main plan for a long flight, I would argue it’s a lot more than “mildly” infuriating.

A very dissapointing screen to encounter at the beginning of a long flight.Image shared to Reddit by Saurlifi.

Virtual game cards are a controversial change, as the gaming industry continues to move further and further from physical media and game ownership. Nintendo has been under scrutiny lately as even some physical third-party game cards don’t actually store the full game on them, as this helpful Reddit post points out. The Nintendo Switch 2 was also bundled with a digital version of Mario Kart World at launch, rather than physical.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid the problems this Switch user encountered. As one user commented, “…there is a workaround.” Navigate to the “Settings” on your Nintendo Switch console (this works for both the Switch 2 and the original Switch). Scroll down to “Users” and select your profile. Then scroll down to “Online License Settings.” Here you can revert back to the system used before virtual game cards. But there’s still one key detail.

The Online License Settings screen on Nintendo Switch.Nintendo, screenshot by me.

Each Nintendo profile has a primary console. The only way to play games without an internet connection is if you are using the primary console that the profile is connected to. This applies to both virtual game cards and the previous system. With virtual game cards, the cards can be shared to other consoles, but this requires either a local or internet connection to accomplish and only lasts for two weeks.

This Nintendo Switch user might have had a very boring nine-hour flight, but hopefully this serves as a cautionary tale for everyone else. If you will be relying on your Nintendo Switch for upcoming travel, I highly recommend double checking the functionality of your games without internet. Maybe bring a book or download a movie to your phone as back up.

• Nintendo
• Reddit
• Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch 2