Nintendo's latest Switch update introduces the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, now live and ready for use. This update is particularly exciting for those who wish to keep their game collection private, as it now includes an option to hide Virtual Game Cards from prying eyes.
As demonstrated by a user on X/Twitter, you can now conceal your Virtual Game Cards from your acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This feature ensures that anyone browsing your list of Virtual Game Cards will not see any games you've chosen to hide, giving you control over your gaming privacy for whatever reason you might have.
I personally tested this feature and successfully hid games such as Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Although these games still appear on my OLED Switch's list if they are installed or loaded, they vanish from the list once uninstalled.
To view your hidden games, you'll need to navigate to the "Redownload Software" section of your game list and then proceed to the "Can't Find Software?" section after logging into your Nintendo account. Similarly, on the Nintendo website, your hidden games are tucked away in a separate folder accessible through the "Can't Find Software?" option.
If you're keen on keeping certain games out of sight from others using your console, you can now safely store them in this hidden folder. However, be aware that this method is a bit cumbersome; you'll need to unhide and reload the games to play them again. It's worth noting that my account still showed as playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I booted it up, and this activity was recorded in my Play Activity as well.
This feature could serve as a useful parental control option for those sharing consoles and wanting to restrict access to games like Mortal Kombat or Doom. Alternatively, if you have some games in your collection that you'd prefer not to flaunt at a social gathering, this feature offers a discreet solution.
With the latest update, you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards. Alongside this, the update has also brought redesigned icons, introduced the system transfer feature in anticipation of the upcoming Switch 2, and largely closed a popular loophole for game sharing. For more details on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can explore further here.
