eShop version of the game not playable without internet connection?

[Sweetley]

So yesterday, my internet was faulty again for about an hour and because of this, my Switch was not connected to the internet at all. I wanted to play some NH while waiting that my internet works again, however, when I started the game, it took forever till the intro showed up. When then pressing A and hoping to see Isabelle doing her typical daily speech, it instead loaded and loaded, like nothing happened. Tried it a few time to restart my game, but I was not able to boot up it. I tried to boot up another game (which only exist as a eShop version), it also didn't work, the display stayed black after the Switch logo showed up. When my internet worked again however, NH worked perfectly fine too again (as well as the other game), no long loading time, I was able to quickly boot up my island.

I bought the game via eShop, as because of the Coronavirus, the shops were all closed around the release date and I was not able to pick up the cartridge version.

Now I wonder: Are you not able to play NH (or other games) bought via eShop offline? Does that mean that I have my Switch connected to the internet to play NH? And if so, if I buy the cartridge version, do I also need to be connected to the internet with my Switch to play it or can I play it without being connected? Beside, will the Switch acting weird if it has both the eShop version and the cartridge version NH on/in it? I just kinda confused right now, as I normally prefer getting the cartridge versions of games (if available) and don't have such a huge knowledge of how the eShop downloaded games working...

 

[moon_child]

I have a digital copy of the game but I can play it offline.

 

[brockbrock]

I have the digital copy as well as could play just fine offline... maybe it's something to do with your Switch? I hope it doesn't happen again!

 

[Xara]

that’s strange. i’m not sure why that happened but you should be able to play it offline

 

[Hayleigh_1]

I cant play the game at all without internet!! I cant even get the loading screen to come up just says checking to see if the game can be played! I have the animal crossing switch and a copy came with!

 

[eggmoon]

That's really odd, I buy most of my games digitally and I've never had an issue playing them without internet connection I would definitely get in touch with nintendo customer service or something if that issue persists, it's definitely not normal.

I cant play the game at all without internet!! I cant even get the loading screen to come up just says checking to see if the game can be played! I have the animal crossing switch and a copy came with!

I don't suppose you have more than one switch and you have an account on both? The "checking to see if game can be played" can block you from playing if the switch you're using isn't set up as the primary console and if the game wasn't purchased on your account, if that makes sense.

 

[flurrybuster]

The only time you need to be online to play a digital game is if you're playing it as a guest/secondary account on a different Switch than usual. In that case, it's just to make sure the account playing it actually belongs to the person who bought the game.

This stops you from signing on to your friend's Switch, downloading all your games, and then letting them play them all. Because they would have to sign in as you to play them.

(Technically, you can still play offline on your own Switch while they play online in your name on theirs, but this still limits it to two people playing your games at once. You can't let two friends play your games on both their Switches at the same time, because it will only let one person sign in as you at a time.)

 

[Underneath The Stars]

my answer is the same as everyone else's. you should be able to.
though i have a physical copy, i gifted card to my brother so he can buy the game. and he had no problem playing the game offline before. it took like two weeks, until i realized i can upgrade my online membership to family so only then i added him.

 

[Sweetley]

Now that I think about it, I used the account where I bought NH also on another Switch before, however, said Switch got formatted, means the account got deleted from that console. I use the account now on another Switch, which is the only one I have. Does the Switch I use thinks that it's not the "primary console" hence why acts like a "second console" and block me out from a game if I don't have internet connection? If so, is there a way to realize the Switch that it's the primary console and my account which has NH is also the primary account?

 

[flurrybuster]

Now that I think about it, I used the account where I bought NH also on another Switch before, however, said Switch got formatted, means the account got deleted from that console. I use the account now on another Switch, which is the only one I have. Does the Switch I use thinks that it's not the "primary console" hence why acts like a "second console" and block me out from a game if I don't have internet connection? If so, is there a way to realize the Switch that it's the primary console and my account which has NH is also the primary account?

You have to manually change your account settings on the Nintendo website, I think. Formatting a Switch doesn't change that your account is only primary on that Switch.

 

[Sweetley]

You have to manually change your account settings on the Nintendo website, I think. Formatting a Switch doesn't change that your account is only primary on that Switch.

Alright, this was the problem. I didn't know that formatting the Switch will not change the settings for your account/console. I now delete the old primary console setting, set my current Switch as the new one, cut myself from the internet and I'm now able to play the game also offline.

Thanks everyone! I was worried what's wrong and I'm glad that I know now how this whole eShop/console setting thing works!