Nintendo Switch 2 leak about cartridge sizes reveals why Game-Key Cards are preferred

Many Nintendo fans have objected to the concept of Game-Key Cards. These cartridges have only small amounts of data and rely on an internet connection to download game files. First-party Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World still use conventional cartridges. Unfortunately, other publishers are embracing the Game-Key Card format. A Switch 2 leak from an Arc System Works data mine may explain why digital distribution is winning the battle over physical media.

Arc System Works is a publisher and developer known for the Guilty Gear series and Dragon Ball FighterZ. After the company's files were compromised, gamers gained more insight into Nintendo's console. One document referred to the choices publishers have with Switch 2 games: [DL], [64GB], and [POTION]. It's believed that DL refers to a digital game download, 64 GB to a standard cartridge, while POTION is a codename for Game-Key Card.

An earlier report from Physical Paradise warned about a limited selection of Switch 2 cartridges. The source expected there to be a 64 GB variety and a much smaller option. If the Arc System Works documents are correct, the situation is even more grim for opponents of digital gaming.

For the original Switch, Nintendo offered a wide range of sizes between 1 GB and 32 GB. That allowed publishers with smaller games to avoid more costly storage. With the Switch 2, only a 64 GB cartridge is available, which some rumors suggest costs $16. The added expense adds up, especially impacting studios with limited resources. Digital releases or Game-Key Cards serve as more affordable alternatives.

Nintendo may be looking to simplify the cartridge production process. The 64 GB media could also become cheaper as it becomes more commonly used. Still, for now, Cyberpunk 2077 seems to be a rare case of a publisher willing to hurt its profits for the sake of game preservation.