All About Switch 2 Game-Key Cards

What are Game-Key Cards?

Game-Key Cards are a new physical game format introduced with the Nintendo Switch 2. Unlike traditional cartridges that store the full game directly, Game-Key Cards contain only a digital license.

When you insert a Game-Key Card into your Switch 2, the console downloads the game from the internet to its internal storage (or a microSD Express card). You'll still need the card in your console whenever you play.

Compared to traditional cartridges, Game-Key Cards

• Require a large download when first inserted into the console
• Use storage space on the console (or microSD Express card)
• Will stop working if Nintendo shuts down the servers that host the game downloads. (Nintendo is known for keeping their servers running for decades though, so this is not an immediate concern.)

Can I lend or resell my Game-Key Card games?

Yes! Except for the fact that the cartridge doesn't directly contain the game contents, Game-Key Cards are just normal physical cartridges, and can be lent, sold, traded-in, etc.

Are all Nintendo Switch 2 games on Game-Key Cards?

No! Some games will be available with the full game on the card, while others will be distributed as Game-Key Cards.

How do I know if a game will be on a Game-Key Card?

Game-Key Card releases have a special icon clearly marked on their packaging:

We also have a full, auto-updating list of all Game-Key Card games below.

Why do Game-Key Cards exist? Why not just release everything with the full game on the cartridge?

Game-Key Cards have one main advantage over traditional cartidges: they're much cheaper to manufacture, and so they allow for more games to get a physical release when it otherwise wouldn't be profitable. Productions costs for a full cartridge are estimated to be $10-$15 more than a Game-Key Card, and so the alternative for many publishers would be to forgo a physical release entirely or charge more than on other consoles.

Is this the first time console games are being released without the full game on the disc or cartridge?

Nope. Many Xbox and PlayStation games (and even some Switch 1 games) have been released without the full contents of the game on the disc or cartridge, neccessitating a download to play the game. Game-Key Cards are the first time a platform has made a clear distinction about these sorts of games though.