Japanese store listings show that nearly every third-party game on physical game cards without actually having the game inside, instead acting as a "key" for ing the title on their Switch 2.

Gematsu pointed out these Japanese store listings on X (via VGC), which include Street Fighter 6, Sonic x Shadow Generations, Yakuza 0, and several other titles showing the disclaimer on the box art signaling that these physical releases are Game-Key Cards. There are some known exceptions, as the physical version of Cyberpunk 2077 will have the full game on the card itself, as will some Switch 2 Edition games coming from third parties.

Many Switch 2 Third-Party Games Require s In The West

But There Are Some Exceptions

Looking at the US recently announced Madden NFL 26. While the banner doesn't show up for No Sleep For Kaname Date, the Best Buy listing mentions that the game is on a Game-Key Card.

Exceptions include the aforementioned Cyberpunk 2077 and the Switch 2 Edition releases of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, both released by Marvelous. The publisher had previously revealed on its website that Switch 2 Edition game cards will also contain the Switch 1 versions to play on the original console. As Switch 1 owners , some physical third-party games for that platform required a full or partial of the game, purportedly due to the high costs of game cards with higher storage capacity, but this requirement seems more prevalent for Switch 2 so far.

Game Key-Cards May Be Bad News For Collectors

Consumers Are Unhappy About Not Having Actual "Physical" Games

Since their existence was known, the concept of Game-Key Cards has received negative consumer reception, with many arguing that these games are barely "physical" releases since they aren't in the cards themselves. Commentators online have asserted that these -only cards are counterproductive to game preservation efforts, and fears are prevalent about these games becoming inaccessible in the future.

With high-end Switch 2 games likely having large file sizes, there is also concern that the Switch 2 internal storage won't be big enough, requiring the purchase of microSD Express cards. The gaming industry is slowly but surely shifting towards digital-only platforms, but consumers are pushing back against the notion. These Game-Key Cards appear to be a halfway point between physical and digital media, and Nintendo Switch 2 owners will have to start dealing with the reality that they're here to stay.

Source: Gematsu/X, VGC, Best Buy