Switch 2 Edition Game Cards Will Actually Have The Full Game Inside

Through all the turmoil and conflicting information following the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, it turns out that Switch 2 editions of existing first-party Switch games will have the full game inside and not require a download, unlike some Switch 2 games that will have "game-key cards" inside the box and still require a download to play. The Switch 2 will support both regular Switch game cartridges and these "game-key cards," but in what's sure to be good news for many prospective Switch 2 buyers, first-party Switch 2 Edition games will have the original game and upgrade together on one cartridge.

According to a Nintendo representative who spoke to Vooks, the physical Switch 2 Edition of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will have both the original Switch 1 game and the upgrade pack for Switch 2 on the same cartridge. There will not be an additional download code needed, with the representative saying, "physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code)."

However, some publishers may still release physical Switch 2 Edition games as downloads, with no game card inside the box, according to the representative. So, it appears first-party Nintendo games will have the physical cartridges for Switch 2 Editions, and third-party games may or may not.

The Switch 2 Game Distribution Strategy Is Messy

"Game-Key Cards," Physical Games, Digital Upgrades, And More Is A Lot To Sort Through

Theway in which games will be distributed for the Nintendo Switch 2 is complicated. Some games will be full physical releases on cartridges, existing physical Switch games may get a digital Switch 2 paid upgrade pack, and then some games will have "game-key cards" that act as a key to unlock the title before being downloaded from the internet. And then, of course, users can opt in for a fully digital experience if they so choose to.

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It could be a benefit for third-party developers to be able to choose how best to optimize their games for sale on the Switch 2. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on Switch 2 will be 64GB at launch, which is a hefty chunk of the console's internal storage, while first-party Switch 2 games won't take up that much space. With some third-party games taking up a lot of space, it may be a necessity for publishers to release Switch 2 games in unconventional ways, but it doesn't make the situation any less confusing for consumers.

Our Take: Switch 2 Has Not Just Variable Pricing But Variable Distribution

This Number Of Release Strategies Will Cause A Lot Of Misinformation

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games being showcased

Nintendo recently stated that its Switch 2 games will have variable pricing, with some games like Mario Kart World costing $80 but others, like Donkey Kong Bananza, costing $70. It appears now that the way games are distributed physically will also be varied, which could lead to a lot of frustration for potential customers if they want a physical cartridge for their Switch 2 and end up with a download code in the box instead.

The response to the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal was mostly negative, with fans unhappy with the price of the console and games, and there will be a lot of misinformation regarding the physical releases of Nintendo Switch 2 games, for sure. But the fact that the first-party Switch 2 Edition games will have just one fully physical cartridge is at least a minor win, despite not every Switch 2 game getting a physical cartridge.

Source: Vooks