Topic: used mircosd cards instead of physical cartridge

I am completely new to the switch, so forgive me if i posted in the wrong area or asking a noob question

I have two physical cartridge games (smash bros and mario kart 8). I want to copy them onto my sd card and play the games without having to switch cartridges.

how do i do that. i watched a few videos... but i have not seen a screen that says download to microsd

thanx in advance

also, do i need to create a nintendo account?

You can't.

You'd have to buy the games digitally if you want them on the sd card.

ah ... damn it... that sucks. i wanted it easy for my kids to switch through games.. (pardon the pun) and not have to put in or take our cartridges...

but i dont want digital copies - because i am thinking of resale value...

man - first world problems. Nintendo should allow the transfer of license. do they?

@ptmd Not a bad question. To supplement Eel above, here's a general overview:

You cannot copy a game from a cartridge to an sd card. Nintendo's did this to prevent piracy.

The Switch system is designed so you cannot share digital games.(to prevent piracy). One digital game per console/user.

Physical cartridges can be shared between consoles, but the game only works when inserted into the console. Your friend may have to download patches, or some large games, the cartridge may not have the full game on the cart, so a download will be required.

so, could i borrow my friends BOTW (physical copy) and play it on my console

thank you

@ptmd Yup! You can share cartridges! Yay!!

@Woomy_NNYes

thank you!

This is the #1 reason to have Physical. You can loan or give away and try the game and then see do I want this or not. Digital can't be shared. Exception to these two situation is if the game is Multiple player game then only the main one loads and up to 4 player on one console. Can't remember if it was 4 or 8 was the limit per console for multiple players.

@ptmd

You can even rent switch games for a reasonable price. I pay £16 for 2 games at a time unlimited per month.

If you trade in this is the way to go. Over the last 3 months I have received over £500 of games including every new release game from outer worlds, Luigi s mansion, COD, Star Wars. Ni no kuni, Dragon quest s, daemon machine etc etc etc for £90 (I was using the 4 disc at a time for £30

I have used it for about two years now saved over £2000 probably more like £3000 and not had to buy a single game thanks to Boomerangrentals.

If you don’t like a game send it back it’s cost you a £1 or 2 at most also when waiting for titles to be dispatched you get player points to redeem on older games, for example I just got code vein with bonus points which only came out 3 months ago.

https://www.boomerangrentals.co.uk/

@Mince wow. Thank you. I know someone who would love this.

Technically the physical Switch games are cards and not cartridges. A cartridge would be something like the Super Nintendo or the Original Nintendo or the N64 had. Just to make a point. Anyhow copying is illegal and could lead to a big fines and jail time. That is why it’s best to have your own physical game.

This is not exactly how it works, you can have more than one user account on the same Switch and anyone can play any game on that Switch, regardless of which account it is tied to. But if you transfer one of the accounts off the Switch to another machine, you takes the games tied to it with the account.

I have two accounts on my Switch an American and Japanese account (since I am an American living in Japan) and I can play games purchased from either account with either account. Japanese games on the American account or American games on the Japanese account.

I should also note that you can use parental controls to limit games for kids, so if you want to play some higher rated titles on the system but did not want your kids to play them, you can set that up with the parental control app.

And on a side note: I personally don't consider selling games ever worth it. You rarely if ever get much for them unless they are limited print games, and nearly every game I have ever sold, years later I regretted it.

@Heavyarms55 You're right. Thanks for adding/correcting that.

@1UP_MARIO
They also offer a couple week free trial.

@Mince yea. Great options. How long you been using them

Here's the thing currently there is no PC reader that will read Switch games so that in more ways then one rules out making Illegal copies of it. Also they most likely have some chip embedded cart to prevent that from happening and verify it's genuine Nintendo cart. Also just buy used copies or used copies on sale then your not buying a full price.