Nintendo introduces 'Game-Key Cards' for Switch 2: some cartridges will be game-less and only have a download key

Nintendo has confirmed that some cartridges for the new Switch 2 console will contain only a game download key, without the game content itself.

Here's What We Know

Nintendo explained that the so-called "Game-Key Cards" are physical media that contain only a code for downloading a game via the Internet. After downloading, the game will be launched when the cartridge is inserted into the console, just like standard physical media. The packaging of such cartridges will be marked accordingly so that customers can easily distinguish between them.

The use of "Game-Key Cards" may cause disappointment among players who prefer physical media due to their convenience and the lack of need for additional downloads. However, it seems that Nintendo plans to use this approach selectively, mainly for games with a large amount of data that cannot fit on standard cartridges. For example, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for Switch 2 will have a volume of 64 GB, which may not fit on a cartridge.

And it is important to note that the cartridges themselves will now cost $90, so they will be mainly taken by collectors, and the industry will gradually move to an exclusively digital format with such actions.

Source: Nintendo