You Might Lose Your Digital Games If You Return Your Switch 2

At launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 saw millions buying bundles that came with games such as Mario Kart World.

Many thought it was a great value because the package included a new console along with a digital copy of a flagship game. Buyers are now realizing that if their console gets returned or swapped, the redeemed game may be gone for good.

This is exactly what happened to one player who shared their experience online.

After sending back their faulty Switch 2 and getting a replacement, they were surprised to see Mario Kart World missing.

The icon was still there on the home screen, but the game wouldn’t start. Instead, the system claimed the digital “game card” was missing.

Heading to the eShop did not help because it only showed a purchase button, as if the game had never been owned. Many users saw this not as a bug but as a penalty for returning their device.

Are Switched 2 Bundled Games Getting Revoked?

Yes. This happens because of how Nintendo handles digital licenses for bundled games.

In some Switch 2 bundles where the game is pre-installed rather than provided as a separate code, the game links to the console instead of the Nintendo account.

Once that console is returned, the license is flagged and revoked.

Even if a replacement unit is activated under the same Nintendo account, the system treats it as a completely separate unit.

It doesn’t carry over access to the bundled game because, in Nintendo’s system, the original console was the “owner.”

How Are Buyers Dealing With Lost Bundled Games?

Many users are upset because they expected their purchases to stay with their account, not the console.

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Support representatives explained to those who asked that the software linked to a returned console is invalidated by default.

Others were lucky enough to recover access by navigating to a specific area in their eShop profile called “Products Bundled With This System.” The game might be available for redownload, but only if Nintendo hasn’t revoked it yet.

For many, this experience has reignited the debate over physical versus digital media.

Those who got bundles with printed redemption codes benefited since the games stay associated with their Nintendo account even if the console changes hands.

Those who had digital titles preloaded soon discovered that digital convenience sometimes comes with unexpected catches. Some people compared this system to renting. If the console is lost, the game is gone too.

Are Future Switch 2 Bundles at Risk Too?

The problem does not stop at Mario Kart World because future bundles for Donkey Kong Bonanza and Metroid Prime 4 could face the same issue if Nintendo continues console-locked digital distribution.

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Until the license process changes, players need to be careful when purchasing or returning bundles. If your Switch 2 runs into issues and you have to swap it, expect that your owned game might disappear without any notice.

So, in short, if your Switch 2 bundle didn’t include a physical cartridge or a code tied to your account, then the game is likely tied to the console itself.

Once the hardware disappears, the game could also vanish. A digital future may be convenient, but many Switch 2 owners are finding out it can also come with invisible locks.

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