Nintendo Unveils Virtual Game Card System to Hide Cards

Nintendo's latest Switch update introduces the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, now live and ready for users. One of the standout features of this update is the ability to hide your Virtual Game Cards from prying eyes. If you're someone who values privacy or simply wants to keep certain titles out of view, this feature could be a game-changer for you.

As demonstrated by a user on X/Twitter, you can easily conceal your Virtual Game Cards from your acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This means that any games you choose to hide won't be visible to others checking your list, giving you control over what others see. I personally tested this feature and successfully hid games like Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games still appeared on my OLED Switch's list if they were installed or loaded, they vanished from the list once uninstalled.

To view your hidden games, you'll need to navigate to the "Redownload Software" section and then to "Can't Find Software?" where you can log into your Nintendo account. This method applies both on the console and on the Nintendo website, where hidden games are tucked away in a separate folder accessible through the "Can't Find Software?" option. Although this process might seem a bit cumbersome since you'll need to unhide and reload games to play them again, it offers a level of privacy that could be useful in certain scenarios.

For instance, if you're sharing your console and want to keep games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach, this feature could serve as a useful parental control tool. Alternatively, if you have games in your collection that you'd rather not showcase at social gatherings, this could be a discreet solution.

In addition to the VGC hiding feature, the latest Switch update includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2, and the closure of a popular game-sharing loophole. For more details on these changes, you can read up on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update.