Nintendo Switch 2 Game Cards to Feature Download Keys

Nintendo has confirmed that the new Nintendo Switch 2 game cards will not always include an actual game. Instead, some will contain a key for a game download. In a customer support post published after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, the company outlined its updated approach to physical game cartridges. When the Switch 2 launches this June, you'll still be able to buy physical games as you have for the past eight years, but there are some key points to consider.

The focus is on game-key cards: physical cards that contain a download key instead of game data. When you insert these cards into your Switch 2, you'll need to download the game. Each game-key card case will have a clear label on the lower front of the box, ensuring you know what you're buying.

Nintendo Switch 2 game-key card warning. Image credit: Nintendo Customer Support.

The announcement of game-key cards for the Switch 2 has sparked concerns among fans who prefer traditional plug-and-play gaming without the need for downloads and an internet connection. There's a fear that these cards might eventually replace all standard cartridges, but current evidence suggests otherwise.

Social media buzz indicates that while some Switch 2 box art, such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster, feature game-key card disclaimers, others like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. It seems the game-key card approach will be reserved for particularly large games that could benefit from this method, such as Hogwarts Legacy or Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Notably, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will include a 64 GB game card at the Switch 2's launch.

During the Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo highlighted the advanced technology of its new red game cards, which offer faster data reading speeds compared to the original Switch. This suggests that not all cartridges will be mere key containers. Nintendo has previously used a hybrid model with games like LA Noire and NBA 2K18, which required additional downloads.

While it's too early to determine how many Switch 2 games will use game-key cards, more details will emerge as the launch date approaches. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5, 2025. For a comprehensive overview of today's Direct announcements, click here. To delve into the new technology featured in Nintendo's latest hardware, click here.