Alongside the official complete reveal of Switch 2 today, as well as its official accessories and some of the exclusive new games, Nintendo also debuted the new Switch 2 game cartridge design as well as something known as Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards. Let’s take a closer look at both.
What is the Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card?
By the sounds of it, there will still be traditional digital games for Nintendo Switch 2, just like there is on Switch 1 – game you can download from the eShop or purchase from official retailers that deal in official Switch digital games. But there is also now something known as Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards.
A Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card looks a lot like a traditional game card, but they aren’t. They are for housing what sounds like access to select digital games, that you can then download and play, but only if the corresponding Game-Key Card is inserted into your Switch 2 – they are the “key” to downloading the full game to your system via the internet.”
They do not contain the full game data, but rather just allow gamers to download the game they correspond to and then play them on consoles the Game-Key Card has been inserted into.
It sounds like this system is basically just replacing the download in a box listings – a game digital game download that comes in box like Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Code in a box listings.
How to use a Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card
1. Insert the game-key card into your system.
2. Download the corresponding game.
The game itself isn’t included on the game-key card, so you’ll have to download it before you can play.
When you insert the game-key card, further instructions will be displayed on the HOME Menu. Please follow the instructions to download the game.
Note: You must have enough space on your Nintendo Switch 2 system memory or microSD Express card to download the game despite using a game-key card.
3: Play the game.
You will need an internet connection to download and launch the corresponding game for the first time, but after that “ the game can be started even without an internet connection. However, like regular physical software, the game-key card must be inserted into the system in order to play the game.”
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