Nintendo Launches Virtual Game Card Privacy Feature

Nintendo's innovative Virtual Game Card privacy feature is now available with the latest Switch update. Users can conceal their game cards from unwanted attention, offering enhanced control over their gaming library.

A user on X/Twitter demonstrated that Virtual Game Cards can be hidden from the acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This ensures that your game collection remains private, shielding selected titles from view for personal reasons.

I tested this feature and successfully hid titles like Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While installed or loaded games still appear on my OLED Switch, they vanish from the list once uninstalled.

To access hidden games, navigate to the "Redownload Software" section and check the "Can't Find Software?" option, then log into your Nintendo account to view them in a separate folder. The same applies to the VGC portal, where hidden games are stored behind the "Can't Find Software?" section.

This feature allows users to discreetly store games they prefer to keep private. However, unhiding and reloading games is required to play them again, which can be inconvenient. My account still showed activity for Suikoden I&II HD Remaster in Play Activity upon launching it.

This feature could serve as a parental control tool, keeping games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach on shared consoles. It’s also useful for hiding titles you’d rather not display at social gatherings, adding a layer of discretion to your Switch catalog.

The update enables hiding Virtual Game Cards and includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature for the upcoming Switch 2, and the closure of a popular game-sharing loophole. Learn more about the new Nintendo Switch firmware update here.