A Shift in Game Distribution: Publishers Move Away from Physical Cartridges on Switch 2

As pre-orders for the Switch 2 have begun, the focus has been on the high demand and limited supply, with many retailers selling out quickly. However, a notable development has gone somewhat under the radar: several third-party publishers have opted to release their games on Nintendo's new game-key cards instead of traditional cartridges. These cards appear similar to regular cartridges but only store a license key, necessitating a download to play the game. This decision seems to be driven by the high manufacturing costs of cartridges for the Switch 2, which can be around $15 per unit. The use of game-key cards may save publishers significant costs, but it also raises concerns about the persistence of access to games and the potential for a two-tiered experience for physical game owners. While some may view this as a minor issue, it threatens to undermine one of the key differentiators of the Switch platform and could lead to a perception that game-key card titles are of lower quality.