Nintendo's latest Switch update introduces the new Virtual Game Card (VGC) system, which is now live and offers users the ability to hide their game cards from public view. For those concerned about privacy or simply wanting to keep certain games discreet, this feature provides a way to conceal games from your acquired list on Nintendo's VGC portal. A user on X/Twitter showcased this functionality, demonstrating how games can be hidden from prying eyes.

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

Nintendo's new Virtual Game Card system is live now on the Switch, in anticipation of the Switch 2's launch. If you're looking to keep certain games private, you can now hide them, though the process is somewhat cumbersome. You'll need to unhide and reload the games to play them again. Additionally, the system still logs play activity; for instance, it marked my account as playing Suikoden I&II HD Remaster when I booted it up.

This feature might serve as a useful parental control option for shared consoles, allowing you to keep games like Mortal Kombat or Doom out of reach. It could also be handy if you prefer to keep certain titles discreet at social gatherings. Regardless of your reason, you can now hide your Virtual Game Cards with ease.

The latest update not only introduces this privacy feature but also includes redesigned icons, a system transfer feature 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 further here.