
Nintendo revealed plans for “Game Key Cards” for the Switch 2 in April 2025, shortly before the console’s launch. These cards are meant to replace traditional game cartridges, but they don’t actually store game data. Instead, they act like a physical key to unlock a game that you still need to download. This allows you to resell or share the card itself, similar to a regular physical game. However, many fans have criticized the Game Key Cards, feeling they pretend to be fully physical releases without offering the same features as cartridges. Some see this as a move towards a completely digital game market, which is a contentious issue for many gamers.