Topic: question about importing games

Dear people,

I have already read some things about it, but I ask it anyway: I have a European Switch and have imported Crash bandicoot 4 American version. While I am waiting for it I would like to know: Do I need to set my region to USA if I want to download updates and/or dlc? And if so, what happens with my e-shop credit and all my downloaded e-shop games? Or is it just a matter of making a new account with USA set as my region? I know a Switch can host multiple accounts! Put shortly: I want the updates and/or future dlc (if that happens) but don't want to lose my e-shop credit and e-shop games.

@Slowdive,

Thanks for the answer. I understand that for dlc to work with a American game you have to go to the American e-shop and also need Dollars instead of Euro's.

I don't know about paid DLC, but make a free US Nintendo account and link it to a second user on your Switch and you'll be covered for updates & free DLC/add-ons from the relevant eshop. You can also browse regional eshops this way too. Payment might be a trickier beast but I haven't tried it.

Source: I have a JP account on my UK switch, a couple physical imported games that got updates just fine, and downloaded a few demos from JP eShop without issue.

@Henmii

1. You have to make USA account to USA DLCs. That is the same will all imported digital games or physical games that need their DLCs to be downloaded separately.

You can play cartridges from any region without the need to change eShop accounts.

2. For updates no. The region change is only for things that need to be accessed through the eShop. Once downloaded you are set and do not need to change every time you play.

The workaround is to create a separate account for you US needs and use it whenever you need to download something.

That is all I know

@Henmii Updates are completely fine as they're just done from the home screen without needing to choose an account and access the eShop at all.

With DLC, it's a game-by-game basis on whether or not you need to buy it from the same region that you bought the game from but it's always best to do to be on the safe side unless you're somehow positive that it's not the case for that specific game.

It is possible to change the region of your Nintendo Account and buy from another region that way but unless it's changed, I don't believe you're able to change region if you still have any funds remaining in your eShop balance. So if you were to change your account's region to the US, buy a US eShop card but then only spend some of it, you wouldn't be able to change your region back afterwards which isn't ideal. Because of that, I'd definitely recommend creating a separate Nintendo account and Switch profile instead for buying from the US/another region. You're able to play any games/DLC bought with that account with your main Switch profile as long as you keep it linked to your Switch.

@Henmii The Switch is a region-free console. There's no need to change your Switch region, you're fine to order/import Switch game cards from anywhere in the world.

You will recieve the updates/dlc of your region.

The only time people change their region, or make a second account for a foreign region, is to access another country's eshop. But you're not doing that. (Even if you did buy from a foreign eshop, once the game is on your console, it's playable. Your nintendo account owns it. It doesn't matter if you change your console/eshop region later.)

Thanks for the answers! I am still on the fence whether or not I would create a second account. I know there's free dlc for Megaman zero/zx legacy collection (I have that one ordered too) so maybe I'll do it just in case.

One last question: If I'll play Crash 4 with my European account and then decide later to also make a American account, can I still continue that game with the American account. Or does my progress get erased?

@Henmii If you create a second account it will appear as a separate additional user on the Switch. When you start the game it asks which user is playing - just select the Euro one.

All users can use eShop purchases from the other users regardless of which store they were bought from - I currently have accounts for UK (Main), Russia, South Africa and Norway set up on my Switch and just use whatever is cheapest for each game I want using a fee free card (Revolut). I only ever play them on the UK account.
Note - each account needs a seperate email address

Edit: Just realised your using a physical import - same will apply regarding starting the game. Just select the Euro user and you save files etc will be fine.

@Henmii Your Crash 4 game progress will be unaffected if you make new users or nintendo accounts. After a digitally purchased game is on your console, your concerns are over. All users on your switch console can access that game regardless of regions or region changes.

Making new switch users, or new nintendo accounts, does not delete existing user game saves.

Thanks for the answers!

One last question: If I'll buy dlc on the American shop for my American game, can I play it with my European account? Also, if I'll buy dlc on the European shop for my American game, can I play it with my European account?

The point is: I am currently playing on my European account, so future dlc should be playable on that for me otherwise I should use my American account. But that way I have to start over, because its a different save-file. I hope that made any sense.

Sidenote: I downloaded the free megaman zero/zx legacy collection dlc on the American shop and it appeared on both accounts (I checked that). Also it seems bought in both shops (American and European).

Switch is Region free that games if they are not localized to that language that will be a different story. But DLC is based on the Region it was made for. Example you buy a JPN DLC but have the game JPN/NA but the DLC is JPN you will need two accounts one for NA and one for JPN to download the JPN DLC. Once you do that your fine and it should work for the related game. Only difference is if that is Purely JPN game then any DLC regardless won't help if there no Localizations to your language the game is not worth it-unless you speak and read JPN then that's fine.

@CactusMan, actually the account downloaded does matter at different times so we shouldn't miss that here. If that account is tied to a game and is move to another Switch or closed anything associated with that account is gone. So one should know there are some limitations on accounts. So if that account is gone any DLC downloaded by that account is gone as well so they won't be able to download the DLC again. So one needs to be sure when they setup dual accounts for other languages DLC other then their native spoken. I have dual accounts One Native and other between JPN/EU languages depending on the DLC and then switching that account back to english when done.

Thanks for the answers.

I live in England, where are the best places to import US Switch games to England from? Are there any that let you preorder and get pre-order bonuses?

@boymacwerter check Amazon or eBay if no longer retail outlets. Preorder from Amazon isn't bad just make sure it's the one you want and can cancel early if need be.

@boymacwerter Have you tried looking on US's amazon? If I open a game's page up on UK's amazon & log in, when I add a game to the cart, it usually gives me the option to buy using my US dollars & converts it for UK & will show the amazon prime shipping times to ship from UK to US. I was surprised at how quick UK amazon could send here to eastern US. Amazon has had that feature for possibly 2+ years now. So, maybe amazon offers the same service for UK to buy from US amazon?

Here's Kirby Forgotten land on US amazon as an example, if you want to look, or look up another game. See what happens if you add a game to your cart while your logged in.
https://www.amazon.com/Kirby-Forgotten-Land-Nintendo-Switch/d...

@boymacwerter as @WoomyNNYes says, Amazon US should be fine.
It's been a while, but I never had any issues buying US DVDs from Amazon US

Thanks for all the help. Amazon US won’t let me pre-order Super Mario Bros. Wonder yet for some reason. I’ll check again closer to launch.

@boymacwerter Yeah, I can't preorder Mario Wonder via amazon UK from the US. I'm guessing we can't preorder from other countries on amazon as an anti-scalping measure.