Nintendo Switch Brings Back Physical Game Ownership
Published On: April 8, 2025
Nintendo just introduced Game-Key cards for the Switch 2, and they’re shaking up how physical and digital games work. These cards look like regular Switch cartridges, but they don’t hold the game itself. Instead, they store a digital key that downloads the game when you plug it in. You’ll need the card to launch the game, but it’s not tied to your Nintendo account—so you can lend it, sell it, or borrow one from a friend without any hassle.
Nintendo’s finally catching up to what the PS2 was doing over 20 years ago—letting you play games offline without locking them to an account. Game-Key cards land somewhere between old-school cartridges and full digital downloads. Once the game’s installed, you only need internet for the first launch. After that, it runs offline as long as the card stays in the console. If you move the card to another Switch 2, though, you’ll need to redownload the whole game, which isn’t great if your internet’s slow or your storage is full.
Nintendo says the main goal is to make it easier to distribute large games that don’t fit on current cartridges. It also helps keep game retailers in the picture, while still offering some of the flexibility of digital games. But not everyone’s convinced. These cards still take up space on your system, and if Nintendo ever shuts down the servers, these games might not work anymore, even if you still have the card.
Still, for people who like owning games and being able to trade them, this could be a solid option. It brings back some of the perks of physical media that are disappearing in the shift to digital.