Topic: Can't access DLC?

Hello! I just had my brother re-download the Octo Expansion pass on our switch, it works on his account but I can't access any of it on mine. When I try to play it, I am prompted with the "Unplayable downloadable content" message and an option to either play and ignore the content or delete the downloadable content and then play. Does anyone have a solution? We both have Nintendo accounts in the same family btw.

That happened to me once I purchased the Age of Calamity DLC. Apparently to share it between all users on the switch you have to buy it with the primary account. Otherwise it’s only playable on the account you buy it with. I don’t think there’s a way to fix it unless you buy it again, unfortunately.

Oddly enough, I was able to use the dlc on my own account before I had a memory wipe on my switch.

@melonoctoling Other possible factors:

• Its possible you had access to Octo Expansion via subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. Disregard if that's not the issue.
• If you have more than one switch, maybe you're using a non-primary switch console, or your brother is no longer the primary account on the console you're using.

So I sent my switch I for repair because my microsd card reader wasn't working, and they ended up giving me an entirely new switch with all my old data, and I had sold my old copy of splatoon 2, but lately I've been feeling nostalgic for the octo expansion so I bought another physical copy, and it's not registering my dlc as purchased, and when I go to re-download it from the eshop, it gives me a separate splatoon 2 icon and tells me I have to have the software to use the expansion, even when I have the game card in. Help!

@McTater Check what region your new Splatoon 2 game card is, you should be able to tell from the last 3 letters at the bottom of the label. Splatoon 2 is one of the few Switch games that technically has different versions depending on the region, so if your new copy is a different region to your eShop account then the Switch will recognise them as different games.

@McTater Ownership of DLC is tied to the nintendo account that purchased the DLC. So, my first guess is that your switch user profile isn't linked to the nintendo account that owns the DLC.

CinnamonRobin brings up a good point about region, in case you've changed your nintendo account/eshop region since purchasing the DLC. Nintendo says the game and the dlc region must match. Disregard if this isn't your issue.

Otherwise, if you're still stuck, try calling nintendo support for help. With your account's email address they should be able to see what's going on with your switch & nintendo account & Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion. https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/contact

I'm certain this is a region issue and nothing to do with accounts because that would explain the two Splatoon 2 icons on the home menu. That wouldn't happen if it was an issue to do with account ownership.

@CinnamonRobin You're right. I checked the label and all my other games say USA but splatoon 2 says EUR. That's so incredibly stupid that I don't even want to talk to nintendo about trying to get a refund. I'm just gonna return the game card and buy the eshop version or go to gamestop or smth. That sucks