ININ Games has walked back its claim that Nintendo announced smaller, lower-cost Switch 2 cartridges. The publisher said its R-Type Dimensions III release would move from a Game-Key Card to a full physical cartridge, but later clarified that Nintendo had not officially announced or confirmed cartridge capacities. The rumored 16GB and 32GB options remain unconfirmed.
What a Switch 2 Game-Key Card includes
A Game-Key Card does not contain the full game. It acts as a key that lets the console download the game data, according to Nintendo Support.
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Star Wars: Heritage Pack - Nintendo Switch | $35.48 | Buy on Amazon |
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Shenmue III Enhanced - Nintendo Switch 2 (CART) | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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It Takes Two | Nintendo Switch 2 |Cartridge I VideoGame |English | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The distinction matters if you expect a physical card to hold the game itself: with a Game-Key Card, the game files are stored on the console or on a microSD Express card, not on the Game-Key Card.
What you need to download and play a Game-Key Card game
- For the first download: an internet connection and enough free space on the console or a microSD Express card.
- For the first launch after downloading: an internet connection is required.
- For later play: Nintendo says the game can be played offline, but the Game-Key Card must be inserted in the console.
What ININ said, and what it retracted
On December 17, 2025, ININ reportedly said it had chosen a Game-Key Card for R-Type Dimensions III because producing the game on full cartridges would significantly raise manufacturing costs and add at least €15 to the retail price. That was the publisher’s estimate for this release, as quoted by Nintendo Life, not an independently verified or universal cost difference.
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- The following games are included in the cartridge: STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (3.6 GB)
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- STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed (3.4 GB)
On December 19, ININ said Nintendo had announced two smaller cartridge sizes and that the change let it recalculate production. It then said R-Type Dimensions III would be released on a full physical cartridge. Ars Technica reported that the asking price would rise by €10, with customers who had already preordered exempt from that increase: Ars Technica.
Later that day, ININ removed the capacity claim from its blog and corrected its statement. GamesRadar reproduced the publisher’s clarification: “There has been no official announcement or confirmation from Nintendo concerning cartridge storage capacities. Any references to specific storage sizes should not be interpreted as official information from Nintendo.” That was ININ’s correction, not a statement from Nintendo: GamesRadar.
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Did Nintendo announce 16GB and 32GB cartridges?
No official announcement or confirmation is established by these reports. The 16GB and 32GB sizes were attributed to rumors in December 2025 coverage, alongside existing 64GB cards. ININ’s initial wording was later retracted; it should not be treated as proof that Nintendo announced those capacities.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa described Game-Key Cards in the English translation of the company’s 85th Annual General Meeting Q&A as a distribution method for larger Switch 2 game data: “This is one of the new software distribution methods we have introduced to accommodate the larger game data sizes on Nintendo Switch 2 compared to Nintendo Switch.” Nintendo also said it would continue working with software publishers to support the platform: Nintendo’s AGM Q&A.
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Game-Key Card versus full game cartridge
| Question | Game-Key Card | Full game cartridge |
|---|---|---|
| Does the card contain the full game? | No. It provides a key to download the game data. | Yes; this is the format ININ said it would use for R-Type Dimensions III. |
| Does the game need to be downloaded? | Yes. An internet connection and sufficient console or microSD Express storage are required for the download. | Not stated in the cited reports for the R-Type Dimensions III cartridge. |
| Is internet needed to play? | Required at first launch after download; Nintendo says later play can be offline. | Not stated in the cited reports for the R-Type Dimensions III cartridge. |
| Must the card be inserted? | Yes, including for later offline play. | Not stated in the cited reports for the R-Type Dimensions III cartridge. |
| What price difference was reported? | ININ initially cited at least €15 in additional retail price for moving to full cartridges; it later reported a €10 increase for this release. | For R-Type Dimensions III, Ars Technica reported a €10 increase, with early preorders exempt. These are ININ’s release-specific figures, not a standard premium for full cartridges. |
Will smaller cartridges mean fewer Game-Key Cards?
That is not established. ININ changed the format decision for one reported release, but the available statements do not show whether other publishers will adopt full cartridges or how Nintendo’s cartridge capacities might affect their choices.
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