Wait, why do I need my original switch to redownload my digital games?
- Thread starter jorgejjvr
- Start date
Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
I'm completely screwed if true. My Switch literally died a few weeks ago and won't turn on.
CrimsonTide
Member
I was told my folks here that "Nintendo has it the same as Sony/Microsoft. Just type in Nintendo account and boom"
Seems this isn't the case and a shame how after 20 years of the competition doing it, they still can't figure out a simple account system
Seems this isn't the case and a shame how after 20 years of the competition doing it, they still can't figure out a simple account system
Sooner
Member
That's literally what I did. I can dl all my Switch games on S2, so problem.
Lionel Richie
Member
Bad post sister, maybe OP has a legit issue on his end and the Switch 2 is a new console, so we need more info about it to figure shit out and not "HURR DURRR MICROSOFT AND SNOY". Learn where to shitpost.
BlackTron
Member
Virtual game cards can only be on one system at a time. But you can still use two Switch with access to all your games, without moving single titles piecemeal.
On the secondary Switch, press Up on the home screen to select the profile linked with your Nintendo account. Find user settings> online license settings, turn it on. That Switch will no longer need to be physically near the other Switch to access the "virtual card". Instead it will do a regular online check. Your primary Switch won't need to do the check (virtual cards don't need to either).
On the secondary Switch, press Up on the home screen to select the profile linked with your Nintendo account. Find user settings> online license settings, turn it on. That Switch will no longer need to be physically near the other Switch to access the "virtual card". Instead it will do a regular online check. Your primary Switch won't need to do the check (virtual cards don't need to either).
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Gobto the virtual game card tab at the bottom
Pick the game you want to download
Go to options
Pick download data
Majima Everywhere System
Member
This didn't make sense to me, and I didn't figure it out. In the end I still had the other switch, so I just transferred the card,
For the life of me I just wanted my primary console, Switch 2, to download my licensed game and not require another system which I do have.
For the life of me I just wanted my primary console, Switch 2, to download my licensed game and not require another system which I do have.
You don't need to , in the virtual game cards tab under options you can directly download data without that virtual game card antics
LavitzSlambert
Member
Power Pro
Member
Basically seems like they did this so that people can't have access to 2 copies of a game in any way, shape, or form. If they let people have a "primary" console, they could keep a console offline, and then just let someone play all their games, and then keep the Switch 2 online, and have access to the same games. I understand it, but it still sucks. It's a new generation. It should be like the PS4, and PS5, where I have a primary console for each generation.
CrimsonTide
Member
Def is not a shitpost
Can I also re-download all my DS/3DS/Wii/Wii U digital games if I go buy a new system? or they are gone forever? Genuinely no idea
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PauloRoberto
Member
It looks like a joke, by today for you to have a new digital library on 3ds, opening this system to alternative downloads is literally the only approach.
hououinkyouma00
Gold Member
This is exactly what I did. Idk what you guys are doing wrong.
I set it up. Logged in. Went to game cards and selected everything I wanted and was done.
Only thing I needed to do was accept my free update for BOTW/TOTK.
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MrAlwaysRight
Member
You're doing it wrong then mate, are you using Virtual Game Cards or online licence?
CrimsonTide
Member
I have downloaded hundreds of games on all those platforms. I no longer have the same handhelds, due to a house fire. So if I re-buy those systems, can I access my large libraries of games or not?
DragoonKain
Neighbours from Hell
My guess is because they're uber paranoid about piracy. It all comes down to that. As is often the case, the solution to a problem ends up just making the consumer suffer.
PauloRoberto
Member
If I remember correctly... no, you can not. Nintendo already forgot these system exists. For them, it's Switch or nothing since S1.
Chukhopops
Member
I sold my Switch months before the S2 release and could redownload everything without any issue, only difference is you don't redownload from the eShop but from the game cards tab.
Then I launched the games and downloaded my cloud saves and all was working fine.
Then I launched the games and downloaded my cloud saves and all was working fine.
Difference is you deactivated your Switch when you sold it by deleting your account while connected to the internet.
Chukhopops
Member
I restored the console to factory settings since I was selling it indeed. I guess you're right that it made all my game cards "available" again for download.
Funny thing is I didn't even know virtual game cards existed at the time, it's just standard practice when you sell any device those days.
hououinkyouma00
Gold Member
No, at least on anything before the Wii U. For some reason I feel like I was able to redownload Wind Waker on a new Wii U but I might just be misremembering. No chance on anything prior.
This isn't the reason. My original Switch is still set up though it was turned completely off when I got the Switch 2 (so there's no chance of it communicated) and it literally just worked.
Every single game I was going to download on my Switch 2 was and still is downloaded on that original Switch. It wasn't factory reset and it wasn't deactivated.
I literally turned the Switch 2 on, set it up and then went to the Game Cards tab on the dock and just selected everything I wanted. Everything downloaded fine and I've launched everything and didn't run into a single issue. It even prompted me to download any saves I had online before it started.
CrimsonTide
Member
Terrible
Yep. That's what I think it is based on my experience albeit mine is a bit different.
But I couldn't load MKW on my new S2 until my kid (who lives out of town) deleted my account on his Switch. I had to wait an hour or two to load it because he was out of town and the battery was dead as well.
ONce he deleted my account, voila, the MKW loaded.
What would have happened if had thrown the Switch in the ocean? I had already used the MKW code from the bundle. The game was downloaded. It would have just sat there not being able to be played forever afaik. Unless Nintendo Support did something for me.
edit: perhaps this is a different scenario as my account was linked on 2 Switches under the new VGC update before I got an S2.
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No he just went to the right place, nintendo hid the download data in the GameCard tab under options for some nintendo sequence reason
What the hell is Snoy!?!?
OH yeah? Was your original Switch updated and when did you turn it off? Do you have your account on any other Switch?
Also ...don't think anyone who deleted their account/reset their Switch has had problems with redownloading. The ones who have had problems all seem to not have done that.
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Knightime_X
Member
Make sure the exact same account that is used for switch 1 is being used for switch 2.
Also, I think you can't dl sw1 games to certain sd cards. They have to be a specific kind that sw2 uses.
Also, I think you can't dl sw1 games to certain sd cards. They have to be a specific kind that sw2 uses.
drotahorror
Member
That's great.
I have a Switch and Switch 2. On Thursday, I setup my Switch 2. I went to the Virtual Game Card section and tried to download a game. I was prompted that I had to update my original Switch (still on a bit older firmware, been a couple months) before I would be able to download a virtual game card. I thought fuck it, I don't care about playing my older games right now anyway.
I bought and downloaded Fast FUSION. I went to my Virtual Game Cards again and tried to load up Fast Fusion. I can't, it still says I need to update my original Switch before I can proceed.
I finally caved and grabbed my Switch 1 and updated the system and was able to finally download games on my Switch 2. If my Switch 1 was bricked or broke, I sure hope there would have been another avenue for me to take.
That's fantastic you had zero issues but there is some flaws with this whole system.
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Hari Seldon
Member
This system is so terrible and stupid. Thank fuck I never went digital on the OG switch.
jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
On mine, I didn't do the transfer process and had a similar experience to OP where I had to link my Switch 2 to my OLED Switch before I could load virtual cards. No big deal for me, because it was already nearby, and now both systems show "loadable" on my Nintendo account - aka I could download my games to either system.
My son did the system transfer from his OLED Switch to the Switch 2. When he launched the virtual card tab, it said he had to link his system to his original Switch 1 from 2017 (which he no longer has). He logged into his Nintendo account online, but it only showed his Switch 2 as registered. Thankfully (probably because he hadn't logged into that Switch in several years) there was a button on that screen that said something like "remove the old system from your account" - he pressed that and was able to proceed.
I get what they're trying to do, but these "virtual game cards" are a bit of a mess. Hopefully they can refine this process.
My son did the system transfer from his OLED Switch to the Switch 2. When he launched the virtual card tab, it said he had to link his system to his original Switch 1 from 2017 (which he no longer has). He logged into his Nintendo account online, but it only showed his Switch 2 as registered. Thankfully (probably because he hadn't logged into that Switch in several years) there was a button on that screen that said something like "remove the old system from your account" - he pressed that and was able to proceed.
I get what they're trying to do, but these "virtual game cards" are a bit of a mess. Hopefully they can refine this process.
Horseganador
Member
But why do you need the Switch? Can't you just log in to your account like on PS or Xbox and download your games?
Saber
Newd Member
From what I have tried, digital game carts still demand online connection and your original Switch which you made the purchase.
You can change this, but is stupidly hided in the menus on your profile icon. Still can't use them without being 100% online, in some cases they even demand you to "purchase" the game.
Also I might be wrong, but in their site it says they ditched the "primary console" function, if this even makes sense.
You can change this, but is stupidly hided in the menus on your profile icon. Still can't use them without being 100% online, in some cases they even demand you to "purchase" the game.
Also I might be wrong, but in their site it says they ditched the "primary console" function, if this even makes sense.
