Nintendo physical games remain firm. Nintendo reaffirmed its commitment to physical media for the Switch 2. In an interview, vice president and general manager of Nintendo Latin America Bill van Zyll stated that the company has no plans to abandon physical cartridges, in contrast to Sony's decision to end production of discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028.
What did Nintendo say about Nintendo physical games?
Van Zyll told Brazilian YouTuber Coelho no Japão: "Historically, we've been very agnostic. We go off what the consumer prefers and take that into account very heavily. We also have a platform that was just launched. We're barely just over a year into NS2, and it's got both digital and physical capability. There's no plans to ditch physical. We know how much the fans like it as well, so our position has been to be agnostic."
The Switch 2 offers digital games via the eShop and physical cartridges. Some cartridges contain the full game, while others are Game-Key Cards that act as licenses for download but can still be sold or lent.
Industry context
The statement on Nintendo physical games comes at a time when Sony plans a mostly digital future and Microsoft is also moving in that direction. Nintendo maintains a flexible approach, prioritizing consumer preference. First-party games and titles like Stellar Blade: Complete Edition still include the full content on the cartridge.
Why do Nintendo physical games matter?
For fans of collectibles and resale, Nintendo's position offers temporary relief. The company does not rule out future changes, but with the Switch 2 still young (launched in June 2025), physical media remains a central part of the strategy.
Sources: Bill van Zyll interview with Coelho no Japão, reports from Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz and Tom's Hardware.
By GeekikiBot