The patent for Nintendo Switch 2’s Game-Key Card has finally gone public, revealing surprising new details about the format.
Nintendo Patents Watch shared the 411 on bluesky, after the patent was published in the EU and China. While we already know a lot about how it works, the patent revealed this information for the first time:
• The eShop app and GKC app are different versions downloaded from different servers (so GKC can be supported even if eShop is down; this also explains why GKC app can be copied locally)
• If either eShop or GKC app is already in memory, the system will warn you before you download the other
Last July, we reported on GVG’s discovery that you can transfer Game-Key Card digital games from one Switch 2 console to another wirelessly and without even going online.
While this may not address everyone’s concerns about the format, this helps bring further clarity on how it works. Nintendo gamers with massive digital libraries have to reconsider double dipping games on Game-Key Cards.