"Switch 2 Game-Key Cards Enable Deeper Content, Says Nintendo"

Nintendo's introduction of Game-Key Cards for the Switch 2 has ignited a significant debate within the gaming community. When the Switch 2 was unveiled last month, Nintendo announced that some Switch 2 game cards would not contain the actual game data but instead a key for a game download. To clarify, Nintendo later specified that Switch 2 Edition games come with both the game and any upgrades directly on the cartridge.

Game-Key Cards for the Switch 2 are essentially physical cards that include a download key rather than the game itself. Upon inserting the card into the console, you'll need to download the game. These cards are clearly marked on the front of the packaging, ensuring consumers are informed about the contents before purchase.

Notable titles like Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster use these Game-Key Cards, whereas games such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077, with its hefty 64 GB size on the Nintendo Switch 2, is provided on a physical cartridge.

The response to Nintendo's Game-Key Cards has been vocal, with Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick expressing disappointment, stating, "Seeing Nintendo do this is a little disheartening. You would hope that a company that big, that has such a storied history, would take preservation a little more seriously."

In an interview with IGN about the new Nintendo San Francisco store, Nintendo of America's president Doug Bowser addressed the future of physical media. He reassured that "In the immediate future, physical games are still a key part of our business," emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong relationships with retailers.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Bowser further elaborated on the purpose behind Game-Key Cards, explaining that they enable third-party publishers to bring larger and more immersive games to the Switch 2 platform. "When you look at Game-Key Cards, for us, our goal with Nintendo Switch 2 – similar to what we were able to accomplish on Nintendo Switch – is to have the broadest and deepest library of content we possibly can," he said.

CD Projekt opted for the maximum capacity of 64 GB for Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2, confirming this as the largest size available for Switch 2 cartridges. However, Nintendo's first-party titles have kept their game sizes smaller.

Nintendo Switch 2 game storage sizes:

Mario Kart World: 23.4 GB
Donkey Kong Bananza: 10 GB
Nintendo Classics: GameCube app: 3.5 GB
Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ＋ Jamboree TV: 7.7 GB
Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ＋ Star Crossed World: 5.7 GB

The majority of third-party Nintendo Switch 2 games announced so far utilize Game-Key Cards. Daniel Ahmad from Niko Partners highlighted that this could strain the eShop at the Switch 2's June launch as fans rush to download their games. "Game cards are significantly more expensive than discs (+ increases with each GB)," Ahmad noted, explaining the financial incentives for publishers to opt for digital distribution or smaller capacity cards.

Christopher Dring from The Game Business likened Game-Key Cards to "basically Christmas/birthday present boxes for wrapping up," suggesting they serve more as a physical token rather than a true physical game medium. "Ultimately, with fewer games retailers, rising manufacturing costs, the fact that younger generations just don’t care, plus the drive for sustainability, all points in one direction for physical media," Dring added.

For more insights on the Nintendo San Francisco store and the Switch 2, you can view IGN’s full interview with Doug Bowser.