Nintendo assures that some Switch 2 game cards will only include a download code, though it's not as negative as initially thought.
A stable internet connection will be required to use the game keys.
Nintendo has confirmed that some physical games for the new Nintendo Switch 2 will include only a download key. In a statement to consumers following the presentation of the Nintendo Switch 2, the company explained that their new 'Game-Key Cards' do not contain the full game data.
These cards, unlike traditional game cards, function as a "key" that allows players to download the complete game to their console via an internet connection. According to Nintendo, "Game-Key Cards are different from regular game cards because they do not contain all of the game data." Once the game is downloaded, players will be able to access it by inserting the Game-Key Card into their console, just as they would with a conventional physical game.
Players will be able to identify which physical Switch 2 games contain a Game-Key Card by an icon of a key on the front of the game box. Additionally, when the card is inserted, the HOME menu will provide instructions for the initial download.
So far, titles such as Bravely Default and Street Fighter 6: Year 1-2 Fighters Edition have been confirmed to include only download keys, while new releases like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza will continue to offer physical game cards just like the original Switch.
The proposal for Game-Key Cards has generated divisions among fans, some of whom fear that Nintendo is moving towards a fully digital model. However, this key system shares similarities with some physical PS5 games that require additional downloads, although in the PS5 case, there is only one physical version for each game, unlike the options offered by the Switch 2.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to launch on June 5, 2025, with a price of $449.99 / £395.99, and pre-orders are set to begin on April 8.