Nintendo's new Game-Key Cards for the Switch 2 have certainly stirred strong reactions. Last month's Switch 2 reveal confirmed that while some game cartridges won’t include full titles, they’ll instead provide download keys. Nintendo clarified that Switch 2 Edition cartridges contain both the game and upgrades.
Game-Key Cards are physical releases containing only download codes—no game data. Players must download the title after inserting the card. Each card's packaging clearly indicates this format on the front, ensuring buyers understand what they're purchasing.
Titles like Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster use these key cards, while Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza feature full games. Large releases like Cyberpunk 2077 (64 GB on Switch 2) still come on traditional cartridges.
Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick expressed disappointment: "It's disheartening to see Nintendo take this approach. Given their legacy, you'd expect stronger commitment to game preservation."
When asked about physical media's future during the Nintendo San Francisco store opening, NOA president Doug Bowser told IGN: "Physical games remain crucial to our business. We value our retail partnerships and want to provide products their customers can purchase."
Nintendo Switch 2 Game Packaging
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Bowser explained Game-Key Cards help third-party publishers deliver larger Switch 2 titles: "Our goal remains building the most extensive game library possible—this includes partners' content. Game-Key Cards enable more ambitious, immersive experiences."
CD Projekt confirmed using Switch 2's maximum 64GB cartridge for Cyberpunk 2077, while Nintendo keeps first-party titles more compact.
Nintendo Switch 2 Game Sizes:
Mario Kart World: 23.4 GBDonkey Kong Bananza: 10 GBNintendo Classics: GameCube app: 3.5 GBSuper Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ＋ Jamboree TV: 7.7 GBKirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ＋ Star Crossed World: 5.7 GB
Most third-party Switch 2 titles announced use Game-Key Cards. Niko Partners' Daniel Ahmad warns this could strain the eShop at launch: "Cards cost significantly more than discs—costs rise with storage. Digital and smaller-capacity cards offer better publisher margins."
The Game Business's Christopher Dring likened the cards to "gift packaging," noting "Fewer game stores, manufacturing costs, shifting consumer habits, and sustainability concerns all point toward digital's dominance."
For more insights, read IGN's full Doug Bowser interview about Nintendo San Francisco and Switch 2.
