Nintendo Unveils Game Card Hiding Feature

Nintendo's latest Switch update introduces the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, which is now live and offers users a unique feature to enhance their privacy. If you're keen on keeping certain games under wraps, you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards from your acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This means that any games you choose to hide won't be visible to others browsing your list, for whatever personal reasons you might have.

I personally tested this feature and successfully hid titles like Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games still appear on my OLED Switch if installed or loaded, they disappear from the list once uninstalled. To view your hidden games, you'll need to navigate to the "Redownload Software" section, then go to "Can't Find Software?" and log into your Nintendo account. The same process applies on the Nintendo website, where hidden games are tucked away in a separate folder under "Can't Find Software?"

This method can be a bit cumbersome, as you'll need to unhide and reload games to play them again. Additionally, even when hidden, the system still logs your play activity, as I noticed it marked my account as playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I booted it up.

The feature could be particularly useful for parents looking to restrict access to certain games like Mortal Kombat or Doom on shared consoles. It might also appeal to those who prefer to keep certain titles private, perhaps to avoid any awkward moments at social gatherings.

With the latest update, Nintendo not only introduced the VGC system but also revamped icons, added a system transfer feature in preparation for the upcoming Switch 2, and closed a popular loophole for game sharing. For more details on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can find additional information here.