Nintendo's New System Hides Game Cards From Lists

Nintendo has rolled out its new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system with the latest Switch update, offering users an intriguing new feature: the ability to hide their game cards from prying eyes. This functionality is particularly useful for those who wish to keep certain titles private or out of sight from others using the same console.

As demonstrated by a user on X/Twitter, you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards from your acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. This means that anyone glancing at your list of Virtual Game Cards won't see the games you've chosen to conceal, for whatever reasons 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 when installed or loaded, they disappear from the list once uninstalled.

Nintendo's new Virtual Game Card system is now live on the Switch, just ahead of the anticipated Switch 2 launch. To view your game lineup, navigate to "Redownload Software" in your games list. However, to see your hidden games, you'll need to go to the "Can't Find Software?" section and log into your Nintendo account. The same applies to the Nintendo website, where hidden games are tucked away behind the "Can't Find Software?" option in a separate folder.

If you have games that you'd prefer to keep private—perhaps for a family-shared console or to avoid awkward moments at social gatherings—this feature could be quite handy. However, it's worth noting that hiding games can be a bit cumbersome, as you'll need to unhide and reload them to play again. Additionally, my account still showed that I was playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I launched it, and it was also marked in my Play Activity.

This feature could serve as a parental control option, allowing you to keep games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach from younger users. Alternatively, if you have some less family-friendly titles in your Switch catalog that you'd rather not have displayed during a rooftop party, this feature might come in handy.

With the latest update, you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards. The update also includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature in preparation for the upcoming Switch 2, and has largely closed a popular loophole for game sharing. For more details on the new Nintendo Switch firmware update, you can read more [ttpp].