The Issue
According to Nintendo's own Support Page:
Primary console
- You can have one primary console at a time for your Nintendo Account.
- The first Nintendo Switch console you use to connect to Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch will become your primary console.
- While using the primary console, any user account on the console can play the downloadable content you have purchased.
- While using the primary console, you do not need to have an active Internet connection while playing downloadable software. An Internet connection is still required to use online features or games which require a subscription service.
- If your Nintendo Account is part of a Nintendo Switch Online membership and you have an active Internet connection, you can access all benefits and features of Nintendo Switch Online.
- You can change which Nintendo Switch console is your primary console but you must first deactivate the current primary console.
Non-primary console
- A Nintendo Account can be linked to Nintendo Switch consoles that are not designated as the primary console, however, some functionality differs from when a Nintendo Account is used on a primary console.
- While using a non-primary console, you can still use the Nintendo Account to access the Nintendo eShop, purchase and download software, and under certain conditions, play your downloadable software.
- While using a non-primary console, you must have an active Internet connection to play downloadable content. If you lose your Internet connection while playing downloadable content on a non-primary console, your game will pause after a certain amount of time; however, once you connect online again, you will be able to resume from the point you left off.
- If your Nintendo Account is part of a Nintendo Switch Online membership and you have an active Internet connection, you can access all benefits and features of Nintendo Switch Online.
- While using a non-primary console, downloadable content can only be started by the user that purchased the content.
- When using downloadable software on a non-primary console, your game will pause if your Nintendo Account is used to access downloadable software on any other Nintendo Switch console.
So, this means, assuming that Account A is your Nintendo Account, Account B is your friend's Nintendo Account, and User is a profile on the Switch wothout a Nintendo Account...
- Account A's Primary Switch:
- ...Can access Account A's downloaded software always.
- ...Can access Account B's downloaded software ONLY if both accounts are registered as primary on the same Switch.
- ...Allows a User to access Account A's downloaded content, but ONLY on his primary Switch.
- Account B's Primary Switch:
- ...Can access Account B's downloaded software always.
- ...Can access Account A's downloaded software ONLY if both accounts are registered as primary on the same Switch.
- ...Allows a User to access Account B's downloaded content, but ONLY on his primary Switch.
- An User without a Nintendo Account can only access Account A's and Account B's downloaded software at the same time if both accounts have the same primary Switch, else the User can only access one of them. The User can access the other account if their entire profile is transferred.
Confused yet? Wait, it gets better. You can only run one game at a time on your account when online (which kinda makes sense, but still could be handled better):
Articles
More will be added as I research this issue.
- Kotaku - Using One Nintendo Account On 2 Switches Is Tricky, So Here's The Best Way To Do It. A husband attempts to workaround the restrictions, but has difficulty in doing so.
- The Verge - You can now play digital Nintendo Switch games across multiple consoles. Wait, I have to use a Nintendo Switch Online account?!? I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS FEATURE?!?!? WTH is wrong with this picture?
- Engadget - Nintendo seriously needs to fix multi-Switch game sharing. I agree with this article!
- Polygon - Using a Switch Lite as your second Switch? It’s harder than you think. This reporter would rather have physical cartridges than deal with the downloadable software restrictions. Unfortunately, as @FAST6191 pointed out, DLC is the way of the future, and probably will replace the physical format.
- How-To Geek - How to Game Share on the Nintendo Switch. Deregister, register, deregister again... It's not completely impossible to share the games that you bought with another account, but it requires more effort thanks to the Primary Console restrictions.
- Reddit - Question about unregistering primary console with multiple users. The user -Taura- is worried about registering their new console as primary and locking out access to their games on their brother's account. By the way, the one who said "Make your account primary on his switch and vice versa. You'll then both have access to one anothers libraries." is wrong.
- GameFAQs - can a single switch have 2 accounts linked? Of course, but only one is primary. Why have two primaries? Better question: Why not have two primaries?
- NintendoLife - Nintendo Switch Now Supports Digital Game Sharing, But There's A Catch. Apparently, this wasn't a feature that existed at launch, but even so, this article reiterates the support FAQs about primary console restrictions, and somewhat questions whether this is a good thing with the tagline "The future is kind of here?"
So, why is this thread here? Only a handful of Switch users have run across this problem, and this thread exists for those who do not know and are considering a second, or perhaps even their first, Nintendo Switch system, as a warning of what they will encounter with more than one system that their accounts are on.
What can we do about it? That's literally up to you, the consumer. How you decide to act on this situation should be based on your own experiences with Nintendo, as well as whether you decide that this will be a problem for you or not. If you do decide that this will be a problem, I suggest issuing a complaint, especially if you already own one or more Switch systems. If not, then why are you reading this?!? You are welcome to comment, even if you don't agree with this post, but please respect others who think differently!
Comment away!
Last edited by HarveyHouston,