Nintendo VP reaffirms commitment to physical game cards for Switch 2
Bill van Zyll, Nintendo's VP and General Manager for Latin America, said in an interview with Coelho no Japão that Nintendo has no plans to stop offering physical media. He said the Switch 2, just over a year into its launch, supports both digital and physical formats, and that Nintendo remains 'agnostic' based on consumer preference.
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The comments contrast with Sony's reported push toward digital-only distribution, suggesting the two companies may be diverging on media strategy as storage demands grow. Nintendo's continued use of game-key cards—physical cards that only license a download—shows that even its 'physical' commitment is adapting to larger game file sizes rather than fully preserving traditional ownership.
- Nintendo executive Bill van Zyll confirmed no plans to drop physical game cards for Switch 2.
- Switch and Switch 2 cartridges cap at 32GB and 64GB, pushing some publishers toward game-key cards.
- The stance positions Nintendo differently from Sony, which is reportedly moving toward digital-only media.
Nintendo Switch 2 Console — With Nintendo doubling down on physical cartridges, the Switch 2 is the perfect platform to keep building a real, ownable game collection. It supports both digital and physical games, giving you the flexibility to choose while still letting you enjoy the satisfaction of swapping cartridges like the good old days.
See Nintendo Switch 2 Console on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Zhiye Liu, 2026-10-13
Published there as: “Nintendo stands by physical games as Sony embraces a digital-only future”
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