The introduction of Nintendo's new Game-Key Cards for the Switch 2 has certainly stirred up a lively debate among gamers and industry professionals. When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2 last month, it announced that some of the new Switch 2 game cards would not contain actual game data, but rather 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 hold a key to download the game of your choice. This means there's no game data on the card itself; you'll need to download the game after inserting the card into your Switch 2. Each Game-Key Card package is clearly labeled on the front, providing immediate clarity on what you're purchasing.
Games such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster feature this game-key card disclaimer, whereas Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. Notably, the hefty Cyberpunk 2077, which takes up 64 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, is released on a physical cartridge.
The reaction to Nintendo's Game-Key Cards has been strong, with Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick expressing disappointment. He remarked, "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."
During an interview about the opening of the Nintendo San Francisco store, IGN asked Nintendo of America's Doug Bowser about the future of physical media and the role of Game-Key Cards. Bowser emphasized the continued importance of physical games, stating, "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 behind Game-Key Cards, explaining that they help third-party publishers bring larger games to the Switch 2. He said, "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 that they utilized the maximum capacity Switch 2 cartridge of 64 GB for Cyberpunk 2077. However, Nintendo has kept the storage sizes of its first-party games 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 utilize Game-Key Cards. Daniel Ahmad, Director of Research & Insights at Niko Partners, highlighted that this could put immense pressure on the eShop around the Switch 2's launch in June as fans rush to download their games. Ahmad explained, "Game cards are significantly more expensive than discs (+ increases with each GB). 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, likened Game-Key Cards to "basically Christmas/birthday present boxes for wrapping up." He added, "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 regarding the Nintendo San Francisco store and the Switch 2.
