Why some Switch 2 carts won’t have games on them

One of the alien details that came retired of last week’s large Nintendo Switch 2 event was the existence of game-key cards. They won’t beryllium utilized for each releases, but fundamentally they’re Switch 2 cartridges that don’t really incorporate a game, but alternatively diagnostic a “key” that’s utilized for “downloading the afloat crippled to your strategy via the internet.”

As video games proceed to shift distant from carnal releases, game-key cards understandably created immoderate disorder among fans. I had the accidental to inquire Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser wherefore they exist, and the reply was beauteous simple: retail stores.

“In essence, it’s a integer crippled connected a card,” helium said. “What it’s beneficial for is for our publishing partners to beryllium capable to bring games to marketplace that whitethorn beryllium of a important size, and truthful they whitethorn request excessively ample a cartridge for that game. It allows them to merchantability those carnal games astatine retail.”

That makes a definite magnitude of sense, arsenic retail stores are inactive a notable marketplace for Nintendo successful particular. Bowser besides noted that, successful an effort to marque the favoritism betwixt the Switch 2 and its predecessor much clear, the institution is “working with our r …

Read the afloat communicative astatine The Verge.