Nintendo offers game developers just two options for the Switch 2 game cards, based on a report from Bloomberg.
According to a recent report from Bloomberg, the Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a strong start in hardware sales, but not everyone in the gaming industry is celebrating. While the console maker’s own titles are performing well, third-party developers reportedly haven’t experienced the same boost in software sales that usually accompanies a major console launch.
A major point of contention is the way Nintendo is handling physical game formats on its new console. In the past, developers could choose from several game card sizes to match their game’s data requirements while keeping costs manageable. But, as per Bloomberg, developers have just two choices for the Nintendo Switch 2 game cards i.e. a large 64GB card, which is expensive to manufacture, or a cheaper game-key card that requires players to download most or all of the game data before playing. The latter has proven unpopular among players. Game-key cards require the physical card to be inserted to access the game, but don’t actually contain the game data, forcing users to rely on downloads. “The key card feels rather half-baked as it combines the drawbacks of both the physical and digital versions,” Morningstar analyst Kazunori Ito told Bloomberg.
The impact on sales can be seen in games like Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion. In the UK, where the game shipped on a traditional cartridge, 72% of its boxed sales were on the Nintendo Switch 2. In Japan, however, where it was sold as a game-key card, only 40% of sales came from Nintendo’s console, according to Famitsu.
Nintendo reportedly views the key card as a cost-saving measure as modern games continue to balloon in size, with full-capacity cartridges potentially adding $10–20 to the retail price. Still, developers are urging Nintendo to reintroduce smaller cartridge options, which would lower production costs for mid-size titles and make physical releases more consumer-friendly.
Ito warned that unless Nintendo addresses these concerns, it risks discouraging third-party support for the Switch 2, which could undermine its long-term success. There is hope that game cards may receive a higher than 64 GB storage size in the future. Read about it here.
