Switch retail cases are often ridiculed for being far larger than the cartridges inside. If a new Switch 2 leak is any indication, Nintendo will not be downsizing the upcoming console's game boxes.
The rumor originated from a Switch 2 game listing at French electronics retailer Fnac. Felipe Lima of the Brazilian Universo Nintendo site then shared a diagram on X with the case's estimated dimensions. At 19.5cm/7.7in x 13cm/5.1in, it would be roughly over an inch longer and wider than the original Switch's boxes. As a result, stores and gamers may need to set aside more space than expected to display Switch 2 cases.
Not long after the Switch 2 leak circulated, full-color comparisons appeared on Reddit. It's safe to say that both environmental activists and small apartment dwellers would not be pleased by this much-wasted plastic.
Microsoft and Sony are embracing digital gaming, but there are no indications that Nintendo will abandon physical media. Recent titles demand more storage space, so fans might expect a change in the Switch 2's game medium. However, an earlier Nintendo patent depicted a new Switch cartridge that looked very similar to existing cartridges. The manufacturer has since confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with previous-generation cartridges.
The official Switch 2 reveal trailer justified earlier reports that the console would have a larger screen. However, unless the cartridge slot and cartridges are larger, that doesn't explain the new supersized game cases. Theories on Reddit range from the inclusion of manuals to making stealing the cases more difficult. Regardless, the April 2nd Nintendo Direct should provide more details about Switch 2 specs and possibly its cartridges.