Nintendo Unveils New Virtual Game Card System to Hide Game Cards

Nintendo's latest update for the Switch introduces the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, which is now live and offers users the ability to hide their game cards from view. This feature is particularly useful for those who wish to keep certain games private, whether for personal reasons or to prevent others from seeing specific titles in their collection.

A user on X/Twitter demonstrated how Virtual Game Cards can be concealed from the acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This means that any games you choose to hide will not be visible to others who might glance at your list of Virtual Game Cards. In my own testing, I was able to successfully hide games such as Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games still appeared on my OLED Switch if they were installed or loaded, they were removed from the list once uninstalled.

To access your hidden games, navigate to the "Redownload Software" section on your Switch and then proceed to the "Can't Find Software?" option. Here, you'll need to log into your Nintendo account to view the list of hidden games. The same process applies on the Nintendo website, where hidden games are tucked away in a separate folder under the "Can't Find Software?" option.

This feature, while somewhat cumbersome due to the need to unhide and reload games to play them, can be useful for various scenarios. For instance, it can serve as a parental control feature to restrict access to games like Mortal Kombat or Doom on shared consoles. Additionally, if you're concerned about certain titles in your Switch catalog being seen by others at social gatherings, this option provides a way to keep them discreet.

With the latest update, your Virtual Game Cards can now be hidden from prying eyes. Alongside this new feature, the update also includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature in preparation for the upcoming Switch 2, and the closure of a popular game sharing loophole. For more detailed information on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can read further here.