Nintendo Switch 2 Games in Japan Mostly Game-Key Cards, Similar in West

Recent developments have revealed that nearly all physical third-party games for the Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan, and similarly in the West, are being released as Game-Key Cards. This trend was highlighted by Gematsu's coverage of the Switch 2 pre-orders in Japan, where all third-party titles, except for CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077, were noted to use Game-Key Cards, requiring an internet connection to download the full game. Titles like Ys X: Proud Nordics and No Sleep for Kaname Date in Japan, and Sega's Sonic X Shadow Generations in the West, exemplify this shift.

In the West, only four third-party physical Switch 2 games have been confirmed to not use Game-Key Cards: Cyberpunk 2077, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion - Nintendo Switch 2, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - Nintendo Switch 2, and No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Aiba Edition. Nintendo has clarified that while some Switch 2 game cards contain only a download key, Switch 2 Edition games include both the game and any upgrades directly on the cartridge.

Game-Key Cards are physical cards that contain a key for downloading the game rather than the game data itself. These cards are clearly labeled on the front of their packaging to inform consumers. Notable titles such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster feature this disclaimer, while others like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. The large file size of Cyberpunk 2077 at 64 GB necessitates its full inclusion on the cartridge.

The shift to Game-Key Cards is seen as a response to the rising costs of physical media production, as highlighted by Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners. He notes that game cards are significantly more expensive than discs, and digital distribution offers higher margins for publishers. This move could strain the eShop servers at the Switch 2’s launch on June 5, as fans download their games.

Christopher Dring of The Game Business views Game-Key Cards as convenient for gifting, likening them to "Christmas/birthday present boxes for wrapping up." He points out several factors driving the industry away from traditional physical media, including fewer game retailers, rising costs, changing consumer habits, and sustainability concerns.

Switch 2 pre-orders began on April 24 and sold out rapidly. In response, some Nintendo fans are posting fake Switch 2 auctions on eBay to combat scalpers and protect fellow enthusiasts from inflated prices.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes