What happens with downloaded games on the Switch if you transfer away the account that bought them

nintendo-switch

My sister and I have shared a Switch console, we both have our own user and respective Nintendo accounts linked to them.

We currently have 3 main titles that were digital purchases, 2 she purchased using her account and one I purchased using mine. She wants to buy a Switch of her own but we are not sure what will happen to these digital purchases.

Will these 2 games become unplayable in the current switch?
Will she be able to just download them and resume playing once she transfers her profile?
Will all her game data for our physical games be transferred to the new console too?

Best Answer

According to image from account transfer dialog and Nintendo support article, games purchased on one account are tied to it, and will be playable only on console, which has this account. Transfer dialog

So

  • She will be able to re-download games on her new Switch;
  • All save data attached to her account will be transferred;
  • Games will be indeed unplayable on current Switch*;

*It would be still possible to play on current Switch by using same account, which is possible if one console is primary and another is not, but there is the whole set of caveats in this case.