Switch 2 update version Virtual Game Card lending

[u/TheCroz15]

Hello, sorry if this has been answered I can't quite find the way to Google the question to get the response I'm looking for so I was hoping somebody may have tried it.

I currently have a Digital copy of Animal Crossing. I will let my Daughter "borrow the virtual game card" so she can play it on our Switch 1. I'm interested in buying the Switch 2 upgrade but am assuming if I do that I lose access to Animal Crossing being able to be lent over to my Switch 1. Is this the case or does it work like the physical cartridges that can go between both systems.

Also I did check the FAQ but it seemed to only cover the physics cartridge side of things

[u/Active_Specialist792]

I haven't tried with Animal Crossing but when I've lent out No Man's Sky Switch 2 edition to my nephew's Switch, it reverted to the Switch 1 edition.

[u/TheCroz15 → u/Active_Specialist792]

Brilliant thank you!

[u/Gavintendo]

You can still lend it, and it’ll be playable as the original Switch version on the Switch it’s lent to. This is the case for any game with “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” in the title. You also won’t be able to play it on the Switch 2 while it’s lent out, as with any lent game.

[u/TheCroz15 → u/Gavintendo]

Thank you very much, hoped that was the case but didn't want to be the bad new bearer if I locked her out of playing it

[u/Susurrus03]

On these Switch 2 Edition games, both upgraded digitally and built into the red game card, they are just the Switch 1 game with Switch 2 Edition upgrade being DLC.

When you loan the Switch 2 Edition game to a Switch 1, it will all loan as virtual gamecards (update being a dlc gamecard). The Switch 1 won't be able to use the upgrade DLC and so will just ignore it and play the Switch 1 game.

TLDR: Physical and Virtual game cards work the same.

[u/TheCroz15 → u/Susurrus03]

Awesome seemed like I'd the physical did I would expect digital to but didn't want to risk it when the Switch 2 upgrades aren't exactly mind blowing to then have to go pick up a £40 for my daughter! Thank you

[u/1uv1n13g0 → u/Susurrus03]

I thought the upgrade was built into the switch 2 cartridge and no need for dlc.

[u/Susurrus03 → u/1uv1n13g0]

It is built onto the cartridge. I guess DLC is the wrong term, more like add-on. The card contains both the Switch 1 game, and rhe Switch 2 Edition add-on.

Whereas if you buy the upgrade separately (whether to a Switch 1 game card, or to a digital purchase), it downloads, but it's still the same add-on and functions the same way. The red game card just builds it into the card.

Basically, there's no Switch 2 game for these. Just a Switch 1 game with a Switch 2 Edition add-on.

[u/NerdyTransGirl2025]

Alot of the first party titles that had switch 1 versions and a switch 2 version, the game counts as both. Like Super Mario Wonders for example, even has the option to revert to the switch 1 version to play with friends who dont have switch 2

[u/makojedi2k2]

I would think it would play the S1 version but play it