Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 introduces game-key cards that offer more flexibility, allowing downloads of games without committing to a specific account or console. Unlike traditional game cartridges that contain complete game data, these cards serve as a key to download the full game via the internet. As speculation arises about the necessity of this new format due to increasing game sizes, Nintendo has yet to determine if these cards will offer a pricing advantage over standard cartridges, which could remain high, as seen with upcoming titles like Mario Kart World at $80.
"[Game-key cards] will start up on the console or system that it is slotted into, so it's not tied to an account or anything," Tetsuya Sasaki, general manager of Nintendo's technology development division, told GameSpot.
"Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don't contain the full game data," Nintendo's support page explains.
Unfortunately, there's no indication game-key cards will be any cheaper than regular physical cartridges - you may have heard, but Mario Kart World will cost a whopping $80, and that was before Trump's tariffs announcement.
common speculation considers the format as a way to distribute games that have grown too big for the Switch 2's 64 GB cartridges while appeasing those who continue to push back against an all-digital future.
Collection
[
|
...
]