Can you have a physical and digital copy of the same game on the Switch?
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You can indeed have both a physical and digital copy of the same game on the Nintendo Switch, but the physical game does not give you rights to a free digital copy, and never will with Nintendo. The Switch will play the game from the cart when the cart is inserted, and the save data is stored separately from the game on the Switch’s internal memory, allowing you to use the same save data for both the physical and digital versions.
Understanding the Basics of Physical and Digital Games on Switch
The Nintendo Switch offers flexibility in how you purchase and play games, with options for both physical and digital copies. This flexibility raises several questions about how these different formats interact with each other and with the console itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I play both a physical and digital Nintendo Switch game?
Yes, if you have both a physical and digital copy of a game, the Switch will play the game from the cart when the cart is inserted, and you can switch to the digital version by removing the cart and selecting the digital version from the HOME Menu.
2. Can I play the same game on 2 switches?
To play the same game on two Switch consoles, you need to redownload the game on each console, but you cannot use the same Nintendo Account to access games on multiple consoles simultaneously.
3. Do digital and physical Switch games share save data?
With an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, save data for both digital and physical games can be shared between consoles using the Save Data Cloud Backup feature.
4. 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 games offering the ability to have a collection and potentially resell, while digital games provide convenience and accessibility.
5. Is it better to download or buy physical games?
Physical games have a resale value and do not require any subscriptions, but digital games offer the convenience of always being available without the need for physical storage space.
6. Is it better to buy games digitally or physically?
Physical games tend to decrease in price faster than digital games, making them a better choice if you plan to buy a game after its initial release.
7. What is the downside to digital games on Switch?
A significant downside to digital games is the limited internal storage of the Switch, which may require the use of an additional SD-Card for storage.
8. Do I need to buy 2 games if I have 2 switches?
To play a game on two separate Switch consoles, you would need two copies of the game, but you can also share digitally purchased games across consoles linked to the same Nintendo Account.
9. What happens to my digital games if I lose my Switch?
If you lose your Switch, you can transfer your Nintendo Account and digital games to a new Switch console, making that console your account’s primary console.
10. Can I have 2 switches on one account?
You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple Switch consoles, but only one can be designated as the primary console, where your digital purchases can be played by anyone using that console.
11. Can you sell your digital Switch games?
No, you cannot sell or trade digital games purchased on the Nintendo Switch, as they are tied to your Nintendo Account and console.
12. Do physical games take up less space than digital Switch games?
While physical games require less storage space for the game itself, they still use space for save files, and digital games require downloading and storing the entire game.
13. Do Switch games save to console or cartridge?
Game save data is stored on the Switch’s System Memory, regardless of whether you’re playing a digital or physical version of the game.
14. Are digital Switch games tied to the console?
Digital games are tied to the Nintendo Account that made the purchase, and you can register one primary console per account where your digital purchases can be played.
15. Can you have 2 primary consoles on Switch?
No, you can only register one primary console per Nintendo Account, but you can link your account to multiple consoles and share digital games across them.