A Quiet Shift: Publishers Abandon Traditional Game Cartridges for Switch 2

As pre-orders for the Switch 2 have gone live, the focus has been on the system's launch supply and demand, with concerns about empty shelves and price inflation. However, a notable development has slipped under the radar: many third-party publishers are opting to release their games on Nintendo's new game-key cards instead of traditional cartridges. These cards look like regular Switch 2 cartridges but only store a license key, requiring players to download the game to play. This decision seems arbitrary, with some games being released on game-key cards in certain territories and traditional cartridges in others. The trend, however, is clear: many publishers prefer game-key cards, which are cheaper to produce than traditional cartridges. In Japan, almost every third-party game announced for the Switch 2 will be released as a game-key card. This shift raises concerns about the persistence of access to games, as well as the potential for game-key cards to become useless once Nintendo ends online service support for the Switch 2. The use of game-key cards also threatens to create a two-tier experience for physical games, with some games offering instant play and others requiring a lengthy download. While the cost savings associated with game-key cards may be attractive to publishers, they may ultimately erode one of the key differentiators of the Switch platform.