Nintendo confirms that some Switch 2 game cards have only one download key

Nintendo has confirmed that those stylish new Switch 2 game cards won't always come with actual games, and sometimes only contain a key to download the key.

Super Mario Bros. Company details how to update its way to physical gaming cartridges in A Customer Support Posts Shortly after the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct this morning. It explains that when switch 2 Arrived in June this yearlike the last eight years, you will be able to continue buying physical switch games, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

The posts in question focus on game key cards: only physical cards that download the keys of the game of your choice. This means there is no actual game data on the card you plugged into Switch 2, so once the card is inserted, you need to download it. Each game key card box will be properly marked on the lower part of the front of the box, so if you are concerned about exactly what you buy, you should have a head right away.

The news that Nintendo will use these game key cards for Switch 2 has caught the physical game fans who prefer the simplicity of plug-in playback without the need for long download times and internet connection to set up. Worryingly, these are just high-end key holders who will soon replace all standard cartridges, but there is little reason to believe that it is true at the moment.

Many have taken to social media to point out this, although some have checked out the Switch 2 Box Art early on, which includes the cover of games like this Street Fighter 6 and Brave default remakeindeed does feature this game key card disclaimer, e.g. Mario Karting World and Donkey Bananadon't want.

It seems that the game keycard approach might be reserved for some huge games that may benefit from key strategies, such as Hogwarts Legacy or Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Even then, the developer CD Projekt Red owned Confirmed Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will be shipped using game cards On the launch day of the Switch 2, it was a time of up to 64 GB.

Also, as explained in Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo seems proud New technology upgraded red game card support. Their data is said to be reading faster than what the original hybrid gaming consoles have seen since 2017, and the company doesn't need to point out whether all cartridges are simple and critical containers. Don't forget that Nintendo has the definitions provided by previous game cards, some of the notable examples of the original switch are black and NBA 2K18both of which require other downloads out of the box.

It's too early to tell 2 Switch 2 games that will rely on game key cards, but we know that as the launch gets closer, all of this will be revealed. Currently, the Nintendo Switch 2 is ready to click on June 5, 2025. For all the direct reveals of today's almighty, click here. To better view all new technologies Nintendo's new hardware, you can click here.

Michael Cripe is a freelancer at IGN. He is known for his work on sites like courts, escape divisions and the only SPS. Be sure to follow him on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@mikecripe).