Nintendo Switch 2 Games in Japan Mostly Use Game-Key Cards, Trend Continues in West

It has emerged that nearly all physical third-party Nintendo Switch 2 games revealed so far in Japan are Game-Key Cards, with a similar trend observed in Western markets.

According to Gematsu, the launch of Switch 2 pre-orders in Japan showed that all physical third-party games, except for CD Projekt's Cyberpunk 2077 and those labeled as Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, are distributed as Game-Key Cards. These cards require an internet connection to download the full game.

Ys X: Proud Nordics and No Sleep for Kaname Date are also game-key cards in Japan. And retail descriptions for Split Fiction list it as a code-in-a-box. pic.twitter.com/dCTUsTmNQZ

— Gematsu (@gematsu) April 24, 2025

In the West, Sega's Switch 2 games, such as Sonic X Shadow Generations, are also confirmed to use Game-Key Cards, as seen on listings like those on Walmart.

Only four third-party physical Switch 2 games have been identified as not using Game-Key Cards: Cyberpunk 2077, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion - Nintendo Switch 2, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - Nintendo Switch 2, and No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Aiba Edition.

When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, it was disclosed that some new Switch 2 game cards would not contain the actual game but instead a key for downloading it. Nintendo later clarified that Switch 2 Edition games would include both the game and any upgrades on the cartridge itself.

Nintendo Switch 2 game-key card warning. Image credit Nintendo Customer Support.Switch 2 Game-Key Cards are physical cards that only contain a key to download the chosen game. This means there is no actual game data on the card you insert into your Switch 2, requiring a download once the card is inserted. Each Game-Key Card case is clearly labeled on the lower part of the front of the box, providing buyers with immediate awareness of what they are purchasing.

Games such as Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default remaster feature this game-key card disclaimer, whereas Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza do not. The substantial Cyberpunk 2077, which occupies 64 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, is provided on a cartridge.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

View 7 ImagesDaniel Ahmad, Director of Research & Insights at Niko Partners, noted that the emphasis on Game-Key Cards could strain the eShop servers around the Switch 2’s global launch on June 5, as fans rush to download their games.

All the Switch 2 bundles come with a download code.

Mario Kart World is 24GB.

Most games come on a game key card and require a download.

The Switch 2 launches globally on the same day.

I am not a religious man, but I ask you all to pray for the Eshop servers on June 5.

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) April 24, 2025

Ahmad also explained that game cards are significantly more expensive than discs, with costs increasing per gigabyte. He added that digital games and lower-capacity cards offer higher margins for publishers, and digital sales constitute the majority of sales.

Christopher Dring, Editor-In-Chief and Co-Founder of The Game Business, described Game-Key Cards as essentially "Christmas/birthday present boxes for wrapping up." He noted that with fewer game retailers, rising manufacturing costs, the younger generations' indifference to physical media, and the push for sustainability, the trend leans towards digital distribution.

Switch 2 pre-orders began on April 24 and sold out rapidly. In response, Nintendo fans have started posting fake Switch 2 auctions on eBay to flood and obscure scalper listings.