If you were expecting an alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2's increasingly controversial game key card situation coming soon, think again. That's because, at least for now, things remain the same, with developers having to choose between a game key card or a 64GB standard cart.
Original R-Type Dimensions 3 publisher Inin Games may have potentially let the cat out of the bag too early, but has backed off that statement for reasons yet unknown.
Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges are already too confusing for themselves.
Game key cards will cause you a lot of headaches on your Nintendo Switch 2.
“There couldn't be a better time,” Inin Games wrote in a revised update announcing that R-Type Dimensions 3 would indeed be coming on cartridge. “Two days ago, Nintendo announced two new compact cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2, allowing us to recalculate production in ways never before possible.”
But that wasn't exactly true and the statement was retracted.
“We have not received any official announcement or confirmation from Nintendo regarding the cartridge storage capacity,” the statement read in part. “References to specific storage capacities should not be construed as official information from Nintendo.”
“At this time, we can only confirm that the upcoming R-Type Dimensions III will be included on physical cartridges. Additional technical details regarding cartridge specifications have not been officially confirmed.”
Ultimately, it's unclear why the withdrawal was made, and it's still unknown whether two new cartridges are actually on the way. Obviously, having a little more flexibility for developers would be a big step forward. But until Nintendo says one way or the other, it's best to assume nothing has changed.
For what it's worth, the Inin site notes that “the retail price of the NSW2 version and the special edition price will increase by €10.” “Because the cost of production is much higher.” This is a common element of the actual cartridges produced.
Less than a year later, game key cards became a headache for players.
Even before the Switch 2 was officially released, the idea that game key cards, i.e. full games couldn't be used on cartridges, was pushing fans in the wrong direction. CEO Doug Bowser addressed the controversy by noting that physical games remain “a core part of our business” and that the company plans to support them for the “foreseeable future.”
Numerous titles released via game key cards, including Persona 3 Reload, have been met with negative player responses. At one point, emotions surrounding the Switch 2 were at an all-time low, mainly because of the cartridge.
Finally, in a huge blow to game preservation, Japan's National Diet Library deemed game key cards unpreservable because cartridges are not technically physical media containing content.
- brand
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nintendo
- original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- operating system
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ownership
- solve
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1080p (portable) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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yes
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