Nintendo Unveils New System to Hide Game Cards

Nintendo's latest Switch update introduces the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, now live and ready for use. For those concerned about privacy, there's good news: you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards from your acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This feature allows you to keep certain games out of sight for any reason you might have, whether it's for privacy or simply to keep your collection organized.

As demonstrated by a user on X/Twitter, hiding games like the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is straightforward. While these games will still appear on your OLED Switch if installed or loaded, they disappear from your list once uninstalled. This means you can keep your game list tidy and private.

To access your hidden games, navigate to the "Redownload Software" section on your Switch. From there, go to the "Can't Find Software?" section and log into your Nintendo account to view your hidden titles. On the Nintendo website, these games are tucked away behind the "Can't Find Software?" option in a separate folder. This method might seem a bit cumbersome, as you'll need to unhide and reload games to play them again. Additionally, my account still showed that I was playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster in the Play Activity, even after hiding it.

This feature could serve as a useful parental control option, allowing you to keep games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach from younger users sharing the console. Alternatively, if you have games you'd rather not display at social gatherings, this privacy feature might come in handy.

With the latest update, not only can you hide your Virtual Game Cards, but you'll also notice redesigned icons and a new system transfer feature in preparation for the upcoming Switch 2. However, this update has also closed a popular loophole for game sharing. For more details on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can find further information [ttpp].