Today's Nintendo Direct announcement of a new Virtual Game Cards feature for sharing games between systems has sparked both surprise and curiosity among fans. However, a footnote on an official Nintendo webpage has led to speculation about the Nintendo Switch 2, particularly due to the mention of "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games."
The webpage detailing the Virtual Game Cards feature includes a footnote that states:
**Compatible systems must be linked to a Nintendo Account to use virtual game cards. Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games can only be loaded on a Nintendo Switch 2 system. To move virtual game cards between two systems, you must pair the systems via local wireless and an internet connection, but only when pairing the systems for the first time. Up to two systems total can be linked per Nintendo Account.
The mention of "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games" is causing a stir. While "exclusive games" are expected to be playable only on the Nintendo Switch 2, the concept of "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games" is less clear. Given that the Nintendo Switch 2 is known to be mostly backwards compatible with the original Switch, fans are theorizing that these "Edition" games could be enhanced versions of existing Switch titles, featuring new functionalities or improved performance exclusive to the Switch 2. This would explain why these games cannot be shared with the original Switch, as they would be fundamentally different from their Switch 1 counterparts.
However, not everyone agrees with this interpretation. Some believe that the mention of "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games" does not necessarily confirm enhanced editions but might simply indicate that certain Switch 2 games cannot be transferred back to the original Switch, even if they are the same game. Another perspective is that this could be a placeholder for potential future releases by third-party developers, who might choose to create Switch 2-specific editions of their games.
In an attempt to clarify these speculations, we reached out to Nintendo. A spokesperson informed us that they would provide an answer on April 2, coinciding with the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Fans will need to wait a bit longer for official confirmation, but the anticipation continues to build around what the Nintendo Switch 2 and its new features might bring to the gaming community.
