Nintendo Switch has been a haven for physical game collectors. There have been no end of releases, from the biggest AAA games, to some of the most niche games imaginable. However, when Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 and the Game-Key cards, preservationists of physical media were upset by the concept which offers little more than the "˜code in a box' titles.
In an interview with IGN, Nintendo of America President, Doug Bowser revealed more about the future of physical games on Nintendo Switch 2. He said: “in the immediate future, physical games are still a key part of our business. And we value our relationships in particular with our retailers" signalling that traditional data on-cartridge games aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Commenting on the controversial Game-Key cards, which don’t include the games data on the cartridge he added:"Game-Key Cards are a way that our publishing partners are able to bring more content onto the platform, deeper and larger, more immersive content on the platform". There are already a breadth of Game-Key Card games confirmed for the Switch 2's launch including Sonic x Shadow Generations, Hitman World of Assassination - Signature Edition and Yakuza 0 Director's Cut.
With an incredibly large 150m+ install base which includes many physical hungry gamers, it's unlikely that games for the original Switch are going anywhere anytime soon either. But as we look towards the future with Nintendo Switch 2, we may see a publishers switch towards Game-Key Cards which will likely be cheaper to produce.
Switch 2 hardware supply
In the interview, Bowser also commented on the supply of hardware for Switch 2. Pre-orders have been available across key markets with almost every unit being snapped up by early adopters.
Bowser commented: "As we look at our plans here in the U.S., we do believe we’ll have production and supply that will allow us to meet consumer demand. We know there’s been strong positive reaction to Nintendo Switch 2 early on and we’ve seen that through our preorders, but we do have a plan to have a continuous flow of product that’ll be available through the holidays.". Some good news for gamers who plan to wait to pickup the new hardware in late-2025.
Nintendo aim to sell 15m Switch 2 units, as well as 4.5m Switch units in the year ahead, so its likely they'll have the supply chain in full motion to make this a reality.
The full interview with Bowser can be found over at IGN and is very much worth your time to read.
Nintendo Switch 2 releases in less than 3 weeks now, for more on the new hardware, check out everything we know about Mario Kart World, as well as the Switch 2 specs and features.
Do you have your console pre-ordered? What's your most anticipated game for the console? Let us know in the comments below and stick with GSC for all your Switch 2 news.
