I've seen bits and pieces covered, so apologizing in advance for some repeat and common questions... but, I've not been able to get the answers to my question from countless videos and searches - so here it goes:
Going to be getting 2, probably 3 switches - parent and two kids. I understand how I can load downloaded games on all three and get them to work... but here's where I'm stuck.
Here is the ideal set up, which maybe is unattainable?
one game loaded on all three switches. each switch able to play that game at the same time. (I get how you can put on airplane mode and go that route...)
play a single game as multiplayer - (e.g. mario kart) - each kid on own device?
Lets say no internet connection- can the downloaded games be accessed on every switch? Can the switches be linked to play a multiplayer game without wifi in that scenario? Again, I'm ideally trying to share the same download between multiple devices at the same time, play that across multiple devices at the same time, and even possibly link those devices together in multiplayer mode.
maybe paying for the family share plan allows this? (in my admittedly brief research, I haven't seen... tired of seeing how to add/remove a member...)
From what I'm gathering, zero issues if each person wishes to play a different game at the same time. I'm more trying to assess if 2 or 3 wished to play together on linked switches, is that even feasible with and without wifi with a single downloaded game under one account?
In my experience, very little of this is possible. The Switch family is not family oriented as far as sharing digital games is concerned. Sharing digital games can only be done across two devices, a primary and a secondary, and not only can you not play the same game at the same time; you can’t play both devices at the same time. NL has a nice article about it if you search, it should set you straight. If you want to play the same game with multiple people on multiple devices, you have to buy multiple devices and games.
That's the gest I was understanding, thank you for the reply. I've seen some work arounds, but was hopeful there was a more straightforward process... apparently not so much.
If the workarounds work, let us know. I’m all digital, and my kids just got Lites this year. My daughter has different gaming tastes, so I set her up with her own profile under mine, and she gets her own games. My son likes a lot of the traditional Nintendo IPs, so I loaded my profile on his Lite, set it to primary, and loaded a bunch of my digital games onto his machine. It works out pretty well except for occasions when we both want to play our own machines at the same time.
All of our multi player time is just done together on the main Switch on the TV. When they get new games, we buy them physical when possible so that they can share hassle free. I love being all digital, but this is certainly an instance where it’s less than convenient.
@nibbs Bimmy-lee summed it up pretty well. The Switch is not very family friendly when it comes to having multiple Switches. It disappoints many parents/families. There have been parents that bought two switches, and were disappointed to find out they had to buy two copies of the game, if both consoles want to play the same game at the same time; Each switch will need it's own nintendo account in that case.
Yeah, I found this all out the hard way......and it's not clear that you sometimes can't even play both devices at the same time. I mean, my kid is 6.
1. I pay for all of this and it's my account. The idea that my Switch isn't the primary is nuts.
2. It's fine if my kid has to be online to play but the fact that he has to play on my profile UNLESS he is the primary Switch in order to access the games that I buy (and let's face it, I buy ALL of them), defeats the concept of a "family account".
3. For now, it works that he has the secondary Switch and just plays with my profile and I have that Switch restricted via parental controls......but soon there will come a day when he wants his own profile, with his own stats and whatnot.
4. I repeat, he's 6......two copies of a game for a single household?
It seems like there should be some way that Nintendo can have a person confirm that child profiles are in fact, children of the account owner and therefore have access to purchases made on the parent account (as they permit via parental controls). Otherwise, I find the concept of a "family" account to be a bit misleading.......but alas......
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Same game can't be played at the same time-this is called sharing and is not allowed for Switch. Each acocunt holder must buy their own Digital game to play. But if this is shared device only one device at a time can play the Digital game that is downloaded by the primary account at any one time. For Parental controls that is through a App to track and restrict Switch usage for Parent-Kid settings. If all three wants to play the same game they must have their own Game Account download or each Physical cart of the game for their Switch. Family accounts are for NSO access for the most part. But you should really check the Nintendo site to get better accurate information to what your asking.
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Topic: Family set up help/suggestions
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