Do You Need Two Copies of Animal Crossing to Play with Two Switches?
When it comes to playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons with multiple players, it’s common to wonder whether you need two copies of the game. In this article, we’ll answer this question and provide insights on how to play Animal Crossing with two Switch consoles.
Direct Answer
No, you don’t necessarily need two copies of Animal Crossing to play with two Switches. However, there are some requirements and limitations you should be aware of before playing with two consoles.
Primary and Secondary Console Setup
According to Nintendo, the best way to share Switch games with your family is to choose one person as the game buyer and designate a shared console as their primary Switch. This means that only one Switch can be played as the primary console, while the other console serves as the secondary console. When playing on two Switch consoles, you can only use one game cartridge or download the game from the Nintendo eShop. This ensures that the game is authorized on one system and not duplicated on the other.
Playing with Two Consoles
Playing Animal Crossing with two consoles is a bit more complex than playing with one console. When you start the game on one console, you cannot play on another console without stopping the game on the first console and saving the game. This means that you cannot play with two consoles at the same time. To play on the second console, you need to:
- Save the game on the primary console
- Stop playing on the primary console
- Switch to the secondary console
- Load the saved game
- Play on the secondary console
Caveats
Here are some important points to keep in mind:
- Game saves: When playing with two consoles, make sure to save your game frequently to prevent data loss in case one console crashes or is unplayable.
- Account linking: To play on two consoles, make sure to use the same Nintendo Account to log in on both consoles.
- Online functionality: To play online, you need to have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription and an internet connection.
- Game updates: When Nintendo releases updates to the game, you’ll need to update the game on the primary console, and then save the game before playing on the secondary console.
Comparison Chart
| Primary Console | Secondary Console | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Auth | One game cartridge or download from Nintendo eShop | Unable to play if not authenticated on primary console |
| Game Saves | Save the game frequently | Load saved game to continue playing |
| Online | Active Nintendo Switch Online subscription required | Online functionality tied to primary console |
| Game Updates | Update game before playing on secondary console | Update game after primary console |
Conclusion
To summarize, you don’t need two copies of Animal Crossing to play with two Switches. Instead, follow the primary and secondary console setup to ensure a seamless gaming experience. Keep in mind the caveats listed above to avoid any complications. Happy gaming!