Switch 2 SHOCK: First-Party Games AVOID Controversial Feature!

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Summary

  • Nintendo Switch 2’s first-party games will not use the Game Key-Card feature, ensuring full game data on physical cartridges.
  • Third party games have the option to use Game Key-Cards.
  • Game Key-Cards give users access to a digital download of the game.

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 won’t employ the disputed Game Key-Card system, a decision that resonates with fans who prefer tangible game copies. Consequently, cartridges featuring beloved characters such as Mario and Link on the new Nintendo Switch 2 will still offer complete games, regardless of many third-party games not adopting this approach.

Following several months filled with speculation, the Nintendo Direct broadcast in early April provided details on numerous features and technical specifications for the Switch 2. The upcoming successor to the original Switch is set to release on June 5, boasting a range of improvements over its predecessor such as tenfold increases in graphical processing power and innovative Joy-Con enhancements like magnetic attachments to the console and mouse functionality.

In a less widely discussed move, Nintendo’s Game Key-Card system impacts game cartridges. This means some games that appear to be physical won’t contain any game data themselves, instead offering players licenses to download games directly onto their devices. As of now, Nintendo has disclosed that while this feature can be used by third-party developers, they are not currently planning to use it for first-party games under the Nintendo brand. There’s no confirmation yet if this policy will apply to all Nintendo-published games, but indications from company executives suggest physical copies will still contain game data in the short term.

Nintendo is Keeping First-Party-Developed Games Free of Game-Keys

Due to criticisms from fans following the announcement of Game-Key Cards, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser has offered clarifications. Earlier this week, Bowser emphasized Nintendo’s dedication to offering physical games, but he also pointed out that the 64GB cartridges for the Switch 2 do not have sufficient storage capacity to accommodate some games completely. To ensure Switch 2 users access a broad range of games, Game Key-Cards allow third-party developers and publishers to distribute larger-sized games on the Switch 2 platform, expanding capabilities that weren’t possible with the cartridges alone.

In contrast to certain third-party firms exploiting this function, other companies are choosing to maintain their games exclusively in a traditional, physical form on the latest console. Earlier in May, Jan Rosner from CD Projekt Red mentioned that Cyberpunk 2077 will forgo the Game Key option for its Switch 2 launch, considering a complete physical release as “the appropriate choice.

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2025-05-17 20:54