Nintendo is gearing up for something different with physical games for its upcoming Switch 2 console. According to recent reports, instead of making all-new game cartridges, the company will include regular Switch cartridges with download codes for Switch 2 upgrades.
This means when you buy a physical Switch 2 game, you’re getting the base Switch version on the cartridge plus a one-time download code that bumps it up to the enhanced Switch 2 version. The box art will reportedly mention these necessary downloads in small print.
This idea raises immediate concerns about the resale market. Once a download code is used, it’s stuck to a single user’s Nintendo account. So, if you buy a pre-owned Switch 2 game, you’re essentially purchasing a standard Switch game without the upgraded features that make it uniquely “Switch 2.”
“This is really disappointing considering that once you use that code, you can’t resell or lend the game as a Switch 2 game, but rather as a Switch 1 game,” noted one concerned fan. Another pointed out that this system could potentially enable scams: “Nintendo is actively helping scammers on this one, people will buy ‘new’ copies only for the code to be used already.”
The situation brings to mind Microsoft’s original plans for the Xbox One, which included restrictions on game sharing and reselling. That plan met such a negative reaction that Microsoft eventually changed course before launch.
For Nintendo, this method probably offers production perks. Using existing cartridge tech lets them keep things backward-compatible while skipping the costs of developing a whole new cartridge format. It also bridges the gap between physical and digital distribution as the industry keeps moving toward digital.
However, the value for collectors becomes iffy. “If the game doesn’t actually contain the Switch 2 version, then what’s the point of buying physical?” asked one potential customer. Physical games have traditionally offered benefits like lending to friends, reselling them, or just showing them off on a shelf—perks that fade if key content is locked behind single-use download codes.
Predictable Nintendo behavior
This wouldn’t be the first time Nintendo has taken an offbeat approach to software distribution or hardware. From cartridges when others used discs to motion controls when others stuck to traditional controllers, Nintendo often does its own thing regardless of trends.
Nintendo’s loyal fanbase has usually backed such choices, but the reaction to this reported cartridge idea suggests it might test the patience of physical game collectors. Folks who care about game preservation also worry, as games relying on digital content might become unreachable when online services shut down someday.
Whether this reported approach will be Nintendo’s final plan is still up in the air. As the company hasn’t officially revealed the Switch 2 or confirmed how they’ll handle physical media.
