When Nintendo launched the Switch 2, excitement was high — but so was confusion. Instead of traditional game cartridges, many third‑party publishers began shipping their physical releases as Game Key Cards: small plastic cards that look like cartridges but contain no game data at all. Just a download code.
For preservationists, collectors, and anyone with slow internet, this felt like a step backward. And for months, developers claimed they had no choice: Nintendo was only offering a single 64GB cartridge option, which was too expensive for many mid‑sized studios to manufacture.
But now, the situation is shifting — and fast.
🧩 What Are Game Key Cards, and Why Are They So Controversial?
Game Key Cards are essentially physical download tokens. You buy a box, open it, and instead of a playable cartridge, you get a card that unlocks a digital download.
Players criticized them because:
- They don’t preserve the game long‑term
- They require internet access
- They offer no resale value
- They feel like “fake physical editions”
Publishers, however, liked them because they’re much cheaper to produce than full cartridges.
💥 The Turning Point: ININ Games Speaks Up
The story took a dramatic turn when ININ Games — publisher of R-Type Dimensions 3 — publicly stated that Nintendo had quietly introduced two new cartridge sizes: 16GB and 32GB.
According to ININ:
These new, smaller-capacity cartridges finally make it financially viable to ship full physical games again.
This meant they could ditch the Game Key Card and release R-Type Dimensions 3 on a real cartridge, though it would cost about $10 more than the digital version due to manufacturing costs.
Their announcement effectively confirmed the rumors that Nintendo was preparing alternatives to the controversial Game Key Cards.
🌀 The Backtrack — But the Damage Was Done
Shortly after the announcement, ININ partially walked back the claim, saying Nintendo had not officially confirmed the new cartridge sizes publicly.
But by then:
- The news had spread
- Players were celebrating
- Other developers began hinting at similar options
Ars Technica also reported that publishers had been privately discussing these cheaper, lower‑capacity cartridges for months.
Even if Nintendo hasn’t formally announced anything, the industry clearly expects these new cartridge options to become standard.
🛠️ Why Smaller Cartridges Matter
The Switch 2’s original 64GB-only option created a bottleneck:
| Cartridge Size | Cost to Publisher | Practical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 64GB | Very expensive | AAA games only |
| Game Key Card | Very cheap | No game data included |
| 16GB / 32GB (new) | Affordable | Perfect for indie & mid‑tier games |
This middle ground is exactly what developers needed.
It means:
- More true physical releases
- Fewer download-only boxes
- Better game preservation
- More consumer trust
And for collectors? It’s a huge win.
🔮 What This Means for the Future of Switch 2 Physical Games
If Nintendo officially rolls out these new cartridge sizes — and all signs point to that being the plan — we’ll likely see:
- A decline in Game Key Cards
- More publishers returning to full cartridges
- Higher physical game prices for some titles
- A healthier physical ecosystem overall
It won’t eliminate Game Key Cards entirely, but it will give developers a real alternative, which is exactly what fans have been demanding.
Nintendo’s handling of physical media on Switch 2 has been messy, but this development is a major course correction. The backlash worked. Developers spoke up. And now, physical game collectors may finally get the respect they deserve.
