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Nintendo confirms some Switch 2 game cards won't carry the game

Nintendo has confirmed that not all Nintendo Switch 2 physical game cards will ship with a full game; some will require an internet connection to download.

Nintendo confirms some Switch 2 game cards won't carry the game
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Tech and Science Editor
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What you need to know

Nintendo has revealed the Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting new features and content. A significant change involves Game-Key cards, where some physical game cartridges only serve as keys to download the full game. This shift affects collectors who prefer physical copies to avoid download times, but warnings will be on game boxes.

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Nintendo has officially given us a close-up look at the Nintendo Switch 2 in a recent Switch 2-dedicated Direct where the company showcased a ton of new content for the upcoming console, along with all of its features. However, what has been discovered on Nintendo's website is likely making physical game collectors scream.

Nintendo confirms some Switch 2 game cards won't carry the game: nintendo switch 2 game key card overview

In a customer support article published shortly after the conclusion of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo detailed its new approach to physical game cartridges, and while the approach is mostly the same, gamers will need to take into account one new addition - Game-Key cards.

As explained in the support post, some Nintendo Switch 2 games, despite being purchased physically with a game cartridge, won't actually be on that cartridge at all, and instead, the cartridge serves as a key to download the full game.

Nintendo confirms some Switch 2 game cards won't carry the game: nintendo switch 2 game key card overview

Once the card is inserted into the Switch 2, it will activate the respective game, making it available to download. Game-Key card titles are the antithesis of gamers who enjoy the plug-and-play simplicity of a physical copy. You can even go as far as to say the biggest reason a gamer would go out and buy a physical copy of a game is to dodge the dreaded download timer.

Be that as it may, gamers won't be duped with Game-Key card titles as there is a warning on the front of the game box, as showcased with the above image. Gamers will need to keep an eye out for the disclaimer on the front of Nintendo Switch 2 games, as no gamer wants to buy a new game, get home, all excited, ready to play it, and then be annoyed at the download timer.

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About the author

Tech and Science Editor

Covers gaming monitors + science, space, and AI news · 10,682 news posts on TweakTown since November 2017

Jak joined TweakTown in 2017 and has since reviewed 100s of new tech products and kept us informed daily on the latest science, space, and artificial intelligence news. Jak's love for science, space, and technology, and, more specifically, PC gaming, began at 10 years old. It was the day his dad showed him how to play Age of Empires on an old Compaq PC. Ever since that day, Jak fell in love with games and the progression of the technology industry in all its forms.

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