Nintendo confirms continued support for physical games on Switch 2

Nintendo has confirmed it has no immediate plans to abandon physical game media, marking a strategic departure from Sony’s decision to end PlayStation disc production by 2028. Bill van Zyll, Vice President and General Manager for Nintendo in Latin America, stated that the company maintains an “agnostic” approach, prioritizing consumer preferences regarding how they purchase and own games.

This commitment extends to the Nintendo Switch 2, which supports both digital downloads and physical cartridges. While the company has introduced “Game-Key Cards”—physical cards that act as licenses for digital downloads—it continues to offer traditional formats. This strategy is supported by market data from Circana, which shows a 5% increase in US physical game spending in 2026, largely driven by a 631% surge in Switch 2 Game-Key Card sales.

Nintendo’s stance highlights a divide in the industry. While digital sales remain significant, the company recognizes the value collectors and casual players place in physical ownership, including the ability to lend, resell, or trade games.