Through all the turmoil and conflicting information following theNintendo Switch 2reveal, 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 someSwitch 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 toVooks, the physical Switch 2 Edition of games likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomwill 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 digitalSwitch 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.
Friend Codes Are Still On Nintendo Switch 2, But There’s An Easier Way To Add Friends
Friend codes are still the main way of adding friends on Nintendo Switch 2, but there’s a quicker way to add friends this time with QR codes.
It could be abenefit for third-party developers to be able to choose how best to optimize their games for sale on the Switch 2.Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Editionon Switch 2will be 64GB at launch, which is a hefty chunk of the console’s internal storage, whilefirst-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 recently stated that itsSwitch 2 games will have variable pricing, with some games likeMario Kart Worldcosting $80 but others, likeDonkey 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, withfans unhappy with the price of the console and games, and there will be a lot of misinformation regarding the physical releases ofNintendo Switch 2games, 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.
