Are digital Switch games permanent?

Digital Switch games are tied to your Nintendo account, making them accessible for as long as you have your account and the service that provides the game is still up, but they are not permanently owned by the player. In essence, when you purchase a digital game, you’re essentially buying a long-term license to play the game, rather than owning it outright, which raises questions about the permanence and ownership of digital games.

Understanding Digital Game Ownership

To delve deeper into the topic, let’s explore some frequently asked questions about digital Switch games.

FAQs

1. Do you keep digital Switch games forever?: All games you buy digitally are stored via your Nintendo Account ID, so you can just redownload them as many times as you want when you delete games to free up space.
2. Can you lose downloaded Switch games?: Games that have been archived (not deleted) will still have an icon on the HOME Menu, and can be redownloaded by anyone on the console, while games that have been deleted will not have an icon on the HOME Menu, and can only be redownloaded with the Nintendo Account that originally purchased the game.
3. What happens when you buy a Switch game digitally?: Once you’ve completed your purchase, your game will automatically download to the system associated with your Nintendo Account, provided the console has enough memory space available and is turned on or in sleep mode with an active Internet connection.
4. Is it better to get digital or physical Switch games?: The main difference is that physical games tend to go down in price after a while, much faster than it happens with digital copies, making physical games a better choice if you’re buying the game months after its release.
5. What is the downside to digital games on Switch?: One significant downside is the limited space on the Switch, which currently has only 32GB of internal storage, potentially requiring an additional SD-Card for more storage.
6. Why are Nintendo Switch digital games so expensive?: The high demand for Switch games, partly due to their popularity and the law of demand, contributes to their expensive prices.
7. Why do people prefer physical Switch games?: Factors include the limited storage space on the Switch, the potential for reselling games, and the option to buy used physical games or get discounts on new ones, which doesn’t apply to digital games.
8. Is it better to have a physical copy of a game on Switch?: The choice between physical and digital comes down to personal preference, with physical copies offering the ability to resell and lend games, as well as not requiring internet to play.
9. Why is physical better than digital?: Physical copies provide permanence and durability if cared for correctly, unlike digital games which may not always be accessible due to service closures or account issues.
10. What happens to digital games if the eShop closes?: You’ll be able to redownload games you own from the eShop “for the foreseeable future”, but this highlights the uncertainty of digital game ownership.
11. Can I get a digital copy of a game I already own on Switch?: You can purchase and download a digital copy of a physical game you own, but the physical game does not give you rights to a free digital copy, and you won’t be able to use the game save data created by your physical copy in some cases.
12. Do Switch games save to the console or cartridge?: Game save data is stored on the console’s System Memory, regardless of whether you’re playing a downloadable game or one from a game card.
13. How long do you own a digital game?: You own them for as long as you have your account and the service that provides the game is still up, but you don’t own the game outright.
14. What will happen to my digital games?: As long as you keep your account, your digital games are yours to keep, but they have no monetary value once purchased, and you can’t sell or trade them.
15. Can you sell your digital Switch games?: Unfortunately, you can’t sell, share, or trade digital games you purchase on Nintendo Switch, as they are tied to your system and account.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while digital Switch games offer convenience and accessibility, their permanence is tied to the life of the service and your account, raising important questions about game ownership and access in the digital age. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, understanding the implications of digital game ownership will become increasingly important for consumers and developers alike.