Nintendo Unveils New System to Hide Game Cards

Nintendo's latest Switch update has introduced the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, offering players a novel way to manage their digital game collections. One of the standout features of this update is the ability to hide your Virtual Game Cards from prying eyes. As demonstrated by a user on X/Twitter, you can now conceal your VGCs from your acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This means that anyone checking your list of Virtual Game Cards won't see the games you've opted to keep hidden, for whatever reason you might have.

I personally tested this feature and successfully hid games like Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games still appear on my OLED Switch's list when installed or loaded, they disappear from the list once uninstalled. This functionality extends to the "Redownload Software" section, where you can view your game lineup. To access hidden games, you must navigate to the "Can't Find Software?" section and log into your Nintendo account, both on the console and the website. Hidden games are then tucked away in a separate folder under this option.

Nintendo's new Virtual Game Card system is live now on the Switch, paving the way for the upcoming Switch 2 launch. This feature could be particularly useful if you're sharing your console and want to keep certain games, like Mortal Kombat or Doom, out of reach as a parental control measure. Or perhaps you simply prefer to keep some titles under wraps, especially when bringing your Switch to social gatherings.

The process of hiding and un-hiding games is somewhat cumbersome, as you'll need to unhide and reload games to play them again. Additionally, my account still showed as playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I launched it, and it was also reflected in my Play Activity. Despite these minor inconveniences, the ability to hide Virtual Game Cards adds a layer of privacy that many users will appreciate.

Alongside the VGC system, the latest update also includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature for the upcoming Switch 2, and the closure of a popular game-sharing loophole. For more details on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can explore further here.