If you were hoping there would soon be an alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2's increasingly controversial game-key card status, then think again. Because, at least for now, things remain as they are, developers will have to choose between a game-key card or a 64GB standard cart.
Basically, R-Type Dimensions 3 publisher Inin Games may have potentially let the cat out of the bag prematurely, only to go back on its word for reasons unknown.
Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges are already too confusing for their own good
Game key cards will cause a lot of headaches on the Nintendo Switch 2.
In an update that has improved, in which it was announced that R-Type Dimensions 3 will indeed be on cartridge, Inin Games wrote on its website, “There is no better time: two days ago, Nintendo announced two new small cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2. This allows us to recalculate the product.
Except, that wasn't actually the case, and the statement was retracted.
“There has been no official announcement or confirmation from Nintendo regarding cartridge storage capacity,” a statement read in part. “Any reference to specific storage sizes should not be construed as official information from Nintendo.”
“At this time, we can only confirm that our upcoming release will be in the R-Type Dimension III physical cartridge. Further technical details regarding cartridge specifications have not been officially confirmed.”
Ultimately, it's unclear why the recall was made, and it's still impossible to know if there really are two new cartridges on the way. Obviously, having a little more flexibility for developers would be a major step forward, but until Nintendo says something one way or another, it's best to assume nothing has changed.
As for its price, the Inine site notes that “retail and the special edition NSW2 version will increase in price by €10. still due to high production costs,” a common element with manufactured physical cartridges.
In less than a year, game-key cards have become a habit of players
Even before the Switch 2 officially dropped, the idea of game-key cards, or full games not being available on cartridge, was rubbing fans the wrong way. So much so that CEO Doug Bowser addressed the controversy by saying that physical games are still “a core part of our business” and that the company plans to support them for the “immediate future.”
There have been several titles that have been released via a game-key card, only for players to respond negatively in response, including Persona 3 Reload. At one point, sentiment around the Switch 2 reached an all-time low, largely because of the cartridges.
Finally, in a major blow to game preservation, the National Diet Library of Japan ruled that game-key cards are not eligible for preservation, because the cartridges are not technically physical media containing the 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
- resolve
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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yes
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