Nintendo's latest Switch update has introduced the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, which is now live and ready for use. For those concerned about privacy, you now have the ability to hide your Virtual Game Cards from prying eyes. A user on X/Twitter demonstrated this feature, showing how you can conceal your acquired games on Nintendo's VGC portal. This means that any games you choose to hide will not appear on your list of Virtual Game Cards, providing you with a level of discretion for whatever reason you might have.
I personally tested this feature and was able to successfully hide games such as Suikoden I&II HD Remaster and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While these games would still show up on my OLED Switch's list if they were installed or loaded, they disappeared from the list once uninstalled. This functionality adds an extra layer of control over what others can see on your system.
To access your hidden games, you'll need to navigate to the "Redownload Software" section of your games list and then head to the "Can't Find Software?" section. Logging into your Nintendo account will allow you to view your list of hidden games. This method is also applicable on the Nintendo website, where hidden games are tucked away in a separate folder under the "Can't Find Software?" option.
If you have games that you'd prefer others not to see when using your system, you can now hide them in this folder. However, it's worth noting that this process can be a bit cumbersome, as you'll need to unhide and reload games to play them again. Additionally, my account still showed as playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I launched it, and it was also recorded in my Play Activity.
This feature could be particularly useful as a parental control option if you're sharing consoles and want to restrict access to certain games like Mortal Kombat or Doom. Alternatively, if you have some more adult-oriented titles in your Switch library that you'd rather not have displayed at social gatherings, this feature can help keep them under wraps.
In summary, you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards with the latest Nintendo Switch update. This update also includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature in preparation for the upcoming Switch 2, and changes to game sharing policies. For more detailed information, you can explore the new Nintendo Switch firmware update [ttpp].
