Cheaper Switch 2 game cartridges may offer an alternative to controversial Game-Key Cards

Some buyers object to Switch 2 Game-Key Cards, which require downloads before titles become playable. These gamers prefer traditional Game Cards because they contain all the data for a game. If publishers are opting against cartridges because of their higher cost, a Taiwanese manufacturer may have a solution. SuperMetalDave64 on social media discovered Macronix’s plans for potentially cheaper, lower-capacity flash memory.

It’s believed that Switch 2 games only ship on one Game Card size. Unlike the original Switch, the sole available cartridge capacity is 64 GB. However, even some games with large worlds to explore, like Donkey Kong Bananza, are less than 10 GB. For smaller companies selling AA titles, pricey Game Cards are unnecessarily large and expensive. As a result, Game-Key Cards or exclusively digital releases have become popular.

Macronix has partnered with Nintendo to produce media for its consoles, though it’s unclear if that includes Switch 2 games. The article on the Uanalyze website reveals that it’s shifting to “in-house MLC NAND and outsourced 3D NAND to meet varying capacity requirements”. While not mentioning the Switch 2, the company explains that it’s monitoring consumer demand in the gaming industry.

The speculation now is that Macronix will move from a custom 2-bit per cell MLC to the common 3-bit per cell TLC flash memory. The change would result in a wider variety of cartridge sizes, including more affordable, lower-capacity media. Still, it may also introduce slower speeds and Game Cards that have shorter lifespans.

It’s possible that the company is prioritizing Switch 2 cartridges that exceed 64 GB. Also, it’s no guarantee that smaller cartridges will entice publishers to abandon Game-Key Cards. If the alternatives remain more expensive, some publishers will hesitate to lose money on each sale.