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

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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.

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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.

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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.