Nintendo VP says there are ‘no plans to ditch physical’ games on Switch 2

What you need to know

Nintendo says it will keep supporting both physical and digital games on Switch 2, with its approach guided by consumer preferences. Physical releases include cartridges and game-key cards, though the latter don’t store the full game on the card.

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With Sony confirming it will stop producing new physical game discs from January 2028, where other platform holders stand on physical media has become a major talking point in gaming this year. Nintendo has now made its position clear, and it’s good news for collectors and physical media advocates.

Bill van Zyll, Nintendo’s Vice President and General Manager for Latin America, addressed the topic in an interview with Coelho, saying that Nintendo has no plans to abandon physical releases.

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Historically, we’ve been very agnostic, right? We go off what the consumer prefers, and take that into account very heavily. We also have a platform that was just launched. We’re barely just over a year into NS2. It’s got both digital and physical, that capability. There’s no plans to ditch physical. We know how much the fans like it as well, so our position has been to be agnostic.

Nintendo’s stance largely comes down to what players want. As long as demand for physical games remains, the company seems happy to keep selling them. For now, at least, Switch 2 owners can still choose between physical and digital.

Physical Switch 2 games come in two forms: traditional cartridges and game-key cards. The latter function more like a code in a box than a traditional physical release, since the full game data isn’t stored on the card. Game-key cards have drawn criticism from collectors who want their games preserved on the cartridge itself.

That said, game-key card sales have reportedly jumped 631% in the US, suggesting the format is finding an audience, even if it isn’t the one physical media advocates hoped for.

How does Nintendo’s Switch 2 physical-game policy differ from Sony’s plan to stop producing new game discs?

Nintendo says it has no plans to stop offering physical games on the Switch 2, which supports both physical and digital releases. Sony, by contrast, has confirmed it will stop producing new physical game discs from January 2028. Switch 2 physical releases include traditional cartridges and game-key cards, though game-key cards do not store the full game data.

How do Switch 2 game-key cards differ from traditional cartridges in game-data storage and installation?

Do Switch 2 game-key cards require a download or internet access to play?

What preservation or access limitations do game-key cards create compared with traditional Switch 2 cartridges?

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Sony’s decision to end physical production for new titles has generated significant backlash and raised concerns that other platform holders might follow suit. Nintendo’s latest comments suggest it isn’t planning to follow Sony’s lead, at least for now. How long that lasts as the market shifts toward digital is another question, but for now, physical games aren’t going anywhere at Nintendo.