One of the more frustrating parts of the upcoming Switch 2 launch is the use of “game-key cards;” physical cartridges that do not contain full games. Thankfully, Nintendo confirms that these carts will not be locked to your account or console. They’re shareable and can be resold.
Nintendo is the last bastion of true physical game releases. If you stick a Mario Kart 8 cartridge into your Switch, you can play the game immediately, no downloads required (barring firmware updates, which you can skip). Some Switch 2 games will honor this philosophy. But if a game exceeds the 64GB capacity of a standard Switch 2 cartridge, then it must be installed directly to the console. Such games will be sold on “game-key cards,” which are just low-capacity cartridges that trigger an eShop download when inserted in your console.
Game-key cards behave like modern PlayStation or Xbox games. As in, your console won’t play the game unless you insert the cartridge—Nintendo doesn’t care that the game is already installed on your console, it wants you to prove that you still own the game. (Those who purchase physical game-key cards may also find themselves buying microSD Express storage, as the Switch 2’s 256GB internal storage capacity can only accommodate two or three large games.)
The good news is that game-key cards are shareable. Tetsuya Sasaki, GM of Nintendo’s technology development division, confirmed to GameSpot that “[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.” Additionally, game-key cards only require an internet connection upon first use, you can play downloaded games offline without any hassle.
Non-sharable game cartridges would be incredible unintuitive, of course. And Nintendo is clearly in a sharing mood—the company is preparing to launch a virtual game cards feature and a GameShare system reminiscent of DS Download Play. Still, the idea of account-locked game carts isn’t that crazy. Microsoft announced that Xbox One discs would be locked to customers accounts in 2013 (this idea, along with several other awful ideas, were abandoned before the console’s launch due to consumer outrage).
Related
Nintendo Switch Online Delists a Classic Game, Setting a Harsh Precedent
Nintendo Switch Online is losing a game for the first time in its seven-year history. This sets an unexpected precedent for the Switch 2.
Nintendo hasn’t announced whether any Switch 2 launch titles will be sold as game-key cards. That said, the global economy appears to be in a death spiral, and game-key cards probably cost less to manufacture than standard cartridges. If publishers are allowed to use game-key cards for titles smaller than 64GB, and if they can eek out some extra profits by doing so, then I assume that the majority Switch 2 physical games will be sold in this format.
The Switch 2 is scheduled to launch worldwide on June 5th. However, pre-orders are delayed indefinitely in the United States due to President Trump’s tariffs. The tariffs, announced on April 2nd, came just a few hours after the Switch 2 launch event and were not factored into the console’s $450 price tag. Nintendo of America is assessing the situation and has not confirmed or denied rumors of a price hike. For reference, the Switch 2 is reportedly manufactured in Vietnam, China, and Cambodia—three countries that now face U.S. tariffs in excess of 46%. If Nintendo does not enact a U.S. price hike or find some other way to offset tarrif costs, then the profits for each of its U.S. console sales will be slashed in half, assuming that current tariff policy remains unchanged.
