Nintendo's introduction of Game-Key Cards for the Switch 2 has certainly stirred up a lively debate among gamers and industry experts alike. When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2 last month, it revealed that some of the new Switch 2 game cards would not contain the actual game data but instead a key for downloading the game. Nintendo later clarified that Switch 2 Edition games would include both the game and any upgrades directly on the cartridge.

Switch 2 Game-Key Cards are essentially physical cards that only contain a download key for the game. This means that upon inserting the card into your Switch 2, you'll need to download the game to play it. The packaging for these Game-Key Cards clearly indicates this on the lower front of the box, ensuring consumers are aware of what they're buying.

Notable titles like Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster come with this game-key card disclaimer, whereas games such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. The hefty Cyberpunk 2077, which occupies 64 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, is available on a physical cartridge.

The response to Nintendo's Game-Key Cards has been mixed, with strong sentiments from industry figures like Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick, who expressed 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 during the opening of the Nintendo San Francisco store, Nintendo of America's Doug Bowser addressed the future of physical media. He affirmed, "In the immediate future, physical games are still a key part of our business. And we value our relationships in particular with our retailers, and want to make sure we have products available for them to sell to their consumers."

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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Bowser further elaborated on the purpose of Game-Key Cards, explaining that they allow third-party publishers to bring larger games to the Switch 2. He stated, "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. And that includes our publishing partners. And Game-Key Cards are a way that our publishing partners are able to bring more content onto the platform, deeper and larger, more immersive content on the platform."

CD Projekt confirmed using the highest capacity Switch 2 cart (64 GB) for Cyberpunk 2077, indicating that 64 GB is the maximum size for all Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges. However, Nintendo has kept its first-party game sizes relatively small.

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

Almost all physical third-party Nintendo Switch 2 games revealed so far are Game-Key Cards. Daniel Ahmad, Director of Research & Insights at Niko Partners, highlighted that this could put significant pressure on the eShop around the Switch 2's launch in June as fans rush to download their games. He added, "Game cards are significantly more expensive than discs (+ increases with each GB), explaining the reasoning for publishers. It takes time to ramp up production of multiple storage capacity game cards. Digital games / lower capacity cards offer higher margins for publishers. Digital is the majority of sales."

Christopher Dring, Editor-In-Chief and Co-Founder of The Game Business, described Game-Key Cards as "basically Christmas/birthday present boxes for wrapping up." He further noted, "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."

For more insights, check out IGN's full interview with Doug Bowser on the Nintendo San Francisco store and the Switch 2.