Technologies

How to Share Games on Nintendo Switch 2 (Spoiler: It’s Easier Than You Think)

There are two methods to share your games between multiple Switch 2 consoles using Virtual Game Cards. And neither one is called GameShare.

If your household has more than one Nintendo Switch 2, you don’t have to purchase the same game again and again for every console. Instead, Nintendo offers two ways to share a single copy of a game you’ve purchased between multiple Switch 2s, using a new feature called Virtual Game Cards. I’ll walk you through both.

Before we get started however, you may have heard of a feature called GameShare, which is also found on the bottom row of the home screen. I’m not talking about GameShare here.

Confusingly, GameShare doesn’t mean sharing or lending full games with other systems. It’s for when you want to play a multiplayer game using more than one Switch 2 to play. You could use it to play Mario Kart with additional Switch 2s all racing one another on the same track, for example, all from one copy of the game. If you had a Nintendo DS, it is very similar to DS Download Play.

The two sharing features I’m walking you through below, and in the video above, are different. They’re both ways to share games between more than one Switch 2 without having to purchase multiple copies of the game. Let’s get started.

Method 1: Load the game on another Switch 2

The first method we’ll go through is loading a game on a second, separate Switch 2 system. Both consoles will be able to play the game on their own, but not at the same time. Also, save files will transfer between the two as long as each system is able to connect to the internet. That way, each system will stay up-to-date with progress made on the other.

To start, you’ll need to have your Nintendo account signed in on both Switch 2 systems. On the secondary device (the one without the game) go to Virtual Game Cards, and select your account. Here you’ll be able to see all the games tied to that account, and any game with an empty cartridge icon is currently not loaded onto this system. Select the game you want to share and then Load on This System.

You’ll then be prompted to link the two Switch 2s together if you haven’t already done so. If this is the first time doing this, you may need to unlink your account from an original Switch, like I had to with my old Switch OLED (pictured above).

Select «Link on the Primary» console and wait for them to connect. Make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Over on the secondary console, you’ll see that they’re now successfully linked together. You can then proceed to Load on This System. Once loaded, the game will automatically begin to download.

To stop sharing, go to Virtual Game Cards on the Primary system, select the game, and Load on This System. This will remove access to it on the secondary system.

Method 2: Lending to a family member

Now let’s look at the second way to share your game library. This is called Lending to a Family Group Member and it works kind of like lending a library book. But don’t be confused by the wording – we’re not talking about Nintendo Switch Online family. This is a method to use if you don’t want your personal Nintendo Account connected to multiple Switch 2 consoles.

The first thing you’ll need to do is add the other member, in this case my SeanTest account, to your Family Group using accounts.nintendo.com/family. After following the instructions and adding the new member, return to the primary Switch 2. Go to Virtual Game Cards, select the game, then Lend to Family Group Member.

The Switch 2 will mention here that these lent games can only go out for up to 14 days at a time, before they automatically come back (just like a library book). Choose Select a User to Lend To, you’ll then need to bring both Switch 2s near each other.

On the secondary device, hit continue. Go to Virtual Game Cards and select Borrow. Once transferred, the game will begin to download.

On the Primary Switch 2, you won’t be able to play that game while it’s lent out. You’ll also be able to see which of your Family Group Members have which games.

It’s also worth noting that each member can only borrow one game at a time. If you want your game back, select the game and then choose Collect from Family Group Member. The secondary device won’t get a warning. Once it’s loaded, the Secondary Switch 2 will automatically be unable to play the game anymore.

There you have both ways to share games across multiple Switch 2s. Hopefully this helps you figure out which option will work best for your gaming setup.

Technologies

Nintendo’s Pokemon Legends: Z-A Is a Hit. Just Ask My Kid

Pokemon Legends: Z-A has sucked my family in, and I can’t get my Switch controller back from my son.

I’d love to tell you all about Pokemon Legends: Z-A, arriving this week, and what it’s been like to play on the Nintendo Switch 2. I can mostly do that — but for most of the past five days, it hasn’t really been me playing. What started as co-playing together quickly turned into my kid taking over completely as he got hooked. And honestly, I’d say that’s a good sign.

Nintendo makes a lot of Pokemon games, too many for me to keep track of. But Legends Z-A is the first that’s Switch 2-optimized, although you can play on original Switches, too. I can’t tell you what that’s like, though — my early review access limited me to playing Pokemon Legends: Z-A on the Switch 2 only at home. I was doubtful about how much a city-based game would truly feel like a must-have experience, but so far it’s already become one of my favorite Pokemon games ever.

I’ll let my son tell you. He’s gotten deep into the trading card game and has played most of the recent Pokemon titles over the past year, and he says this is his favorite so far. When I asked him why, he said it’s because the game completely rethinks how battles work. The quick, real-time system feels more immediate and far less sluggish than in past Pokemon games. Plus, he’s loving the story… and honestly, so am I.

A city full of surprises

My son loves the «peculiar» storyline, the fast-paced battles (which he now wants in every Pokemon game) and the constant sense of surprise while exploring Lumiose City.

All of Pokemon Legends: Z-A (at least from what I’ve seen in my 10-plus hours so far) takes place entirely within Lumiose City — a Paris-like metropolis where the CEO of a company called Quasartico Inc. is planning to rebuild everything into a new world where Pokemon and humans can better coexist. The setup reminded me of the Detective Pikachu movie during my demo a few weeks ago, and it turns out my instincts were right.

Pokemon roam in wild zones within the city, occasionally spilling into urban areas, while mysterious rogue «Mega Evolution» Pokemon have begun appearing and threatening the city’s calm. There’s clearly a deeper mystery at play, and while I’m still uncovering it, I won’t spoil anything here.

The game seems to mostly involve a journey to level up in rank from Z to A by battling various Pokemon trainers, but that’s not the whole story. There’s a group of friends you hang out with at a local hotel, along with research missions you have to carry out. Side quests are everywhere. The city, though it can feel a bit sparse at times, stretches all the way up to its rooftops, where all sorts of hidden spots are waiting to be discovered. It feels like a living maze, and one I’m still navigating.

And the city’s always changing, too. Wild zones keep multiplying, and from day to night the city’s dynamics shift. Battles take place at night, with trainers gathering in new pop-up spots each time. It’s not as lively as I’d hoped — this isn’t Grand Theft Pokemon — but the cozy, vibrant world still makes me daydream about what a real-life Universal Pokemon theme park could someday look like.

The Pokemon shine

I keep reminding myself to take extra time to discover and level up my Pokemon. At least that’s what my son’s telling me to do. He loves how many Pokemon can become Mega Evolved in this game, and how much fun the battle moves are to pull off. I’m happy he’s happy. I thought I’d get lost in the RPG aspects of the game, but I think the real-time Pokemon battles put me in a looser state of mind, more able to explore and not feel locked down into systems and rulesets. Swapping Pokemon battle moves and reassigning them to buttons is easy, too.

The stronger focus on trainer battles — and the sheer variety of Pokemon capable of mega evolving — gives the game more of that classic, Pokemon-centered energy than Pokemon Legends: Arceus ever did. I found myself more excited to see how different Pokemon looked and behaved than to uncover new realms to explore. After all, for all of Lumiose City’s secrets, you’re spending a lot more time roaming one massive location than in any other Pokemon game I can remember. Thankfully, the visual upgrades on the Switch 2 make those Pokemon look fantastic in battle.

I do want to spend more time in Lumiose City, though, and can’t help but wonder if this is a glimpse of how all Pokemon games will keep evolving. It’s hard to say, since Legends games like Z-A and Arceus have been more experimental than the rest of the series. But, like Arceus, Z-A is now one of my favorite Pokemon games on Switch. And on Switch 2, it plays smoother and feels better than any Pokemon game ever has before.

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.