Nintendo Switch owners with the console’s latest system update have noted that it is no longer possible to play the same digital game online across two systems simultaneously.

Previously, a Switch designated as a primary console could load up a digital game and play online alongside the owner of that game logged in via a second Switch.

TLDR: You could share bread as long as they are in the same store, now you have to either lend your bread priviledges to a friend or make them buy it for themselves.

actually forget this tldr, no one will understand it, not even myself, I don’t own a switch.

  • Sharing and trading games is just about the only thing I absolutely miss about physical media. I’m not playing X quite as much anymore and I want to check out Y. My friend has Y and has never played X. We swap carts. Life is good.

    Can’t fucking do that shit anymore… 😮‍💨

  • falkerie71@sh.itjust.works
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    3 hours ago

    Previously, a Switch designated as a primary console could load up a digital game and play online alongside the owner of that game logged in via a second Switch.

    I’m under the impression that the old method is still available, so you could still use this “trick” to play the same copy on two devices.

    There’s a NintendoLife article detailing how to perform the loophole

    However, there is a loophole that will let you play the same game on two Switches. To do so, head into the ‘User’ section of the System Settings and select your profile. Then, head down to Online License Settings and turn it on.
    This allows you to play digital games whilst connected to the internet, even if the relevant Virtual Game Card is loaded onto another system.

  • qwestjest78@lemmy.ca
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    4 hours ago

    This reminds me of what Xbox tried to do all those years ago, but Nintendo is actually getting away with it.

  • MurrayL@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    I assume this will be a deeply unpopular opinion, but I don’t really see an issue with this?

    If you buy a game physically you can’t have the cartridge inserted in two consoles at the same time. Why would the digital version work any differently?

  • _____@lemm.ee
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    11 hours ago

    I know many Nintendo consumers that will likely just buy multiple copies of the same game

    I realize I’m in the wrong place to say it but it is true

    • LiamBox@lemmy.mlOP
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      6 hours ago

      Yes it can be true, but there is a chance someone was sharing that game through a legitimate feature.

  • 4am@lemm.ee
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    12 hours ago

    Yeah, fuckin knew it the moment they announced this.

  • otp@sh.itjust.works
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    13 hours ago

    Interesting – I thought they always restricted it to only one user playing the same game online at a time!

    • Tamlyn@lemmy.zip
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      13 hours ago

      I thought that as well, otherwise the whole world could just use one account to play. Where was the limit?

      • Xanvial@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        You can only set one Switch as primary account.

        you can play with your own account in your own switch, while your friend plays in his Switch that is set as your account’s primary. Previously both can play the same game at the same time (I did a while ago to play MH rise with my friend, using one game and one NSO subscription). Seems this is no longer possible after the new update

        • Tamlyn@lemmy.zip
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          8 hours ago

          Did you both play online, i guess MH Rise only works online. If that was possible i’m surprised. On ps4/5 it’s for sure not possible, but i never tried it on the switch.

          • Xanvial@lemmy.world
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            3 hours ago

            Yes, we did play online on the same party. In contrast, we can’t play local network party together so need to be Online

      • otp@sh.itjust.works
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        13 hours ago

        Well, families on NSO have a limit of 8 users. So I thought 1 could play online, and 7 offline at most.

    • MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net
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      10 hours ago

      Previously:

      You have a Nintendo account. Under your account is your primary device. You buy a game under your Nintendo account. You can then play on any device that you’re signed into. Or any account on your primary device can play the game. (Xbox had this same setup for years.) Working example: you buy Mario Kart. Your friend comes over. You sign in on your friend’s Switch, and hand them your switch and they use any other account on the device (including local). You then can both play the same copy/license of Mario Kart.

      Now there are two options: virtual game cards, and online licensing. VGC is what all of the noise/confusion is about. Online licensing is very similar to the old method, but they closed the loophole I outlined above.

      • samus12345@lemm.ee
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        8 hours ago

        The “loophole” that they included on their website?

        If multiple users want to play the same game at the same time:

        The user that purchased the game should play on a system that is not the shared console (a non-primary console). This console will need to have an active internet connection. The user that did not purchase the game should play on the shared console (the primary console for the user that purchased the game).

  • Goretantath@lemm.ee
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    11 hours ago

    No shit, anything that isnt the full game with all bugfix patches on a physical cart is a downgrade compared to what they had to do in the past. Literaly could send your cartridge in and get the patched one back.

    • Xanvial@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      I think you misunderstood, Virtual Game Card is fully digital, new system, to lend diigital games to another switch.

      Maybe you’re thinking about Game Key Card? Which is a physical key without game file, so need to download the game itself