Using Switch 2 Game-Key Cards exclusively would be a mistake, according to Cyberpunk 2077 developer

Many physical third-party Switch 2 games will ship on Game-Key Cards rather than traditional cartridges. Players download game files, but the card must remain in the console to boot titles. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is an exception since it uses a 64 GB cartridge. This move toward digital gaming hasn't gone over well with many Nintendo fans. In an interview with The Game Business, a Cyberpunk 2077 developer explains why Switch gamers still covet physical media.

Jan Rosner serves as VP of Business Development for CD Projekt Red. Rosner detailed how The Witcher 3 influenced the company's decisions with Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. The open-world RPG was already available on other platforms. Nevertheless, the 2019 The Witcher 3 release found a strong following in the Nintendo community. The developer attributes some of that appeal to the ability to game on the road using cartridges. Even with the potential to lose the physical media, players didn't have to rely on an internet connection.

Rosner doesn't expect Game-Key Cards to replace cartridges in the near future. The developer elaborated, "Nintendo at physical retail is still strong, and retail is, in general, not going anywhere. I don't think we'll soon experience a reality where we're just having all games digital."

64 GB cartridges reportedly cost at least $16, which adds to the cost of publishing Switch 2 games. Game-Key Cards allow companies to save money while distributing titles in retail cases. Still, according to Rosner, profits shouldn't be the only factor in the physical vs digital debate. Switch owners enjoy assembling collections of cartridges. Game preservation supporters also have concerns about relying on servers for future playability.

First-party Switch 2 games, like Mario Kart World, still use physical media. Nintendo may be aware of its core audience's resistance to all digital gaming. However, among titles new to Switch consoles, Cyberpunk 2077 is a rare advocate for cartridges.