Switch 2 Cartridge Debacle: 64GB is the Only Option?

With every exciting reveal about the Nintendo Switch 2, there’s a wave of controversy to follow. Much negativity surrounding the hybrid console’s successor now stems from the widespread adoption of Game Key Cards. Now, we may finally have insight into the reasons behind this shift.

A reported data breach hit Arc System Works, known for Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ, which has surfaced some new details. According to the leak, Nintendo is restricting physical game releases on the Switch 2 to just two options: 64GB cartridges or Game Key Cards. This marks a sharp departure from the original Nintendo Switch, which offered a variety of cartridge sizes (1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB) to suit different game sizes. The decision could reshape the Switch 2’s physical media landscape, push developers toward digital solutions, and align Nintendo with the industry’s all-digital ambitions. Here’s what we know and what it means.

Why Game Key Cards Are Going to Be the Standard

The leak indicates that Nintendo is streamlining physical media for the Nintendo Switch 2. Unlike the original Switch, where developers could select cartridge sizes based on their game’s needs, the Switch 2 reportedly offers only 64GB cartridges for physical releases or Game Key Cards, which provide a download code instead of on-media data. This explains why third-party publishers like Sega, Capcom, and Konami are increasingly opting for Game Key Cards for their Switch 2 titles.

The driving factor? Cost. Digital Foundry suggests in a recent DF Weekly that each 64GB Switch 2 cartridge costs developers around $16—a steep increase from even the original Switch’s 32GB cartridge and exponentially more than the $1–$2 cost of a 100GB Blu-ray disc used by the PS5 and Xbox Series X. For smaller games requiring only 10GB or less, using a 64GB cartridge is overkill, cutting deeply into profit margins. Game Key Cards, which only need a minuscule amount of data for the game’s key, are a cheaper alternative, but they may frustrate fans who prefer traditional physical media.

This approach echoes the PS5 and Xbox Series X, where developers are limited to a single 100GB Blu-ray disc regardless of game size. However, Blu-ray’s low cost makes this less burdensome for Sony and Microsoft’s ecosystems. For Switch 2 developers, the high cartridge cost creates an ultimatum: absorb the expense of a 64GB cartridge or pivot to Game Key Cards, potentially alienating collectors and offline players.

A Theory Debunked

I have previously speculated that cartridge size might influence game pricing on the Nintendo Switch 2, with larger games on bigger cartridges commanding higher prices. The Arc System Works data breach completely debunks this theory. Titles like Mario Kart World (around 24GB) and Donkey Kong Bananza (approximately 10GB) reportedly use 64GB cartridges. And yet their prices vary, with World retailing at $79.99 and Bananza at $69.99. This suggests Nintendo is pricing games based primarily on development costs, scope, and market strategy, not cartridge capacity.

Variable pricing could be a double-edged sword. If Nintendo offers more titles in the $50-$60 range, like smaller-scale 2D Kirby or Yoshi games, there could be a silver lining for consumers. However, if the company exploits this model to only push prices toward $80, it risks being perceived as predatory.

What Does Nintendo Gain From Doing This?

Nintendo’s choice to limit Switch 2 cartridges to a single 64GB option raises eyebrows, but several factors likely shaped this decision. Standardization streamlines manufacturing and supply chains. Producing one cartridge size reduces costs for Nintendo and ensures consistency across the platform. The original Switch’s varied cartridge sizes may have complicated production and left abundant stock lying around for less-used options.

However, there could be a deeper motive at play: pushing consumers toward digital purchases. Nintendo has experimented with digital incentives before, notably through the Nintendo Switch eShop Vouchers and Gold Coins programs on the original Switch. Vouchers offered discounts on select digital games when purchased in pairs, while Gold Coins provided small rebates for digital purchases, nudging players toward the eShop.

The high $16 cost of 64GB cartridges could be an indirect bonus for Nintendo to make physical releases less viable for third-party developers, encouraging them to prioritize digital sales or Game Key Cards. This aligns with the broader industry’s shift toward an all-digital future, led by PC now being the dominant force in the industry, Xbox’s digital-heavy platform, and PlayStation’s fast-growing digital player base.

Final Thoughts

Although nothing has been officially confirmed, the Arc System Works date breach unveils a controversial strategy for the Nintendo Switch 2’s physical media. By restricting developers to 64GB cartridges or Game Key Cards, Nintendo is standardizing production and future-proofing for larger games, but a sixteen-dollar per-cartridge cost is driving third-party studios toward digital solutions.

This move may reflect Nintendo’s broader ambition to accelerate the shift to digital purchases, building on the Switch’s digital incentives. However, where players were previously incentivized to move to digital with the Switch 1, Nintendo seemingly discourages physical with the Switch 2. As the Switch 2’s launch nears, we’ll be watching to see if this move pays off or if the cost of progress is too high.