Nintendo Switch 2 Cartridge Pricing Boosts Physical Games

Rumored cartridge costs suggest more developers could choose full physical releases over Game Key Cards, offering better options for collectors and players.

Fans who like owning games on cartridges might have reason to be optimistic with the rumors around Nintendo Switch 2's physical game approach. Take the latest allegations with a pinch of salt, of course. Still, they align with recent reports that Nintendo has developed multiple cartridge sizes that could make physical releases far more affordable for developers and publishers.

This knowledge comes from an insider who has had a mixed reception in the gaming community, given his recent track record. While the insider's past predictions, such as an early Nintendo Direct prediction and hopes for a new 3D Mario unveiling, didn't come to pass, some other stories have been correct. As such, many fans are taking these new pricing data as accurate, especially since some of the figures align with previous reports from other trusted sources.

Nintendo has never published its pricing for Switch 2 cartridges to developers.

But various industry sources have claimed over the previous months that the corporation sells at different prices for different storage capacities. Nash’s updated numbers are very close to the previous projections, making the actual cartridge pricing seem more likely than some of the other assertions about digital Game Key Cards.

The stated pricing has developers paying about $13 for a 16 GB cartridge, $15 for a 32 GB version, and $17 for the biggest 64 GB cartridge. It also claims Nintendo's prices for Game Key Card releases are lower depending on download size, while traditional code-in-a-box editions would be slightly pricier. The biggest thing is not the actual prices but the fact that there are other cartridge capacities available. In the early days of the Switch 2's lifespan, it was common to assume that developers had access only to pricey 64 GB cartridges and that it was hard to justify a full physical release of smaller games.

Recent hardware teardowns seem to confirm that Nintendo is currently producing various cartridge variants. Content developers who have analyzed Retail Switch 2 cartridges have found distinct inside markings, which analysts believe equate to a few storage capabilities. Nintendo has not officially confirmed the available sizes, but evidence points to 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB cartridges now on the roster, with even smaller alternatives still a possibility.

If these rumors are true, the price gap between a $17 high-capacity cartridge and a $13 lower-capacity one could be considerable for indie studios and mid-sized publishers. For titles that require only moderate storage, a real on-cartridge distribution suddenly becomes significantly more financially attractive than before. That shift could mean that many creators who previously depended on Game Key Cards or physical editions that required downloads to get their whole games onto the cartridge would now be able to do so.

The report also pointed out numerous upcoming games that appear to take advantage of the additional cartridge capabilities.

Previously, relatively tiny 3 GB titles like Type Dimensions would have been shipped as a Game Key Card, but can now apparently debut as a full-blown physical cartridge. Other examples are Observer: System Redux at ~7 GB, Orbitals at ~11 GB, Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition at ~18 GB, and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader at ~31 GB. Now, these titles can fit nicely in Nintendo’s reported cartridge selection without publishers having to pay for the largest and most expensive option.

Further announcements continue to add to that tendency. Just ahead of the conversation, Mouse: P.I. For Hire’s developers stated their Switch 2 version would also be a complete on-cartridge release. That announcement was hailed by collectors, many of whom have been more vocal about backing publishers ready to supply entire physical copies.

Strong community support may ultimately impact future publishing decisions. Good word of mouth, more physical sales, and collectors' enthusiasm could convince more studios that investing in complete cartridge releases is a good idea. But beyond storage, there are practical reasons why Switch 2 users would want to consider real cartridges.

However, the system has only 256 GB of internal storage, so a few hefty titles can fill up the available space rapidly. Massive releases like Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are a testament to how fast storage limits may become a problem. Even for games that are pushing 70GB or even 100GB, Game Key Cards are still a sensible choice simply because they go beyond the realistic limits of current cartridge technology. But many gamers think that smaller titles should still be shipped wholesale on a cartridge when possible.

The development of lower-cost cartridge capacities seems to alleviate that worry. This allows Nintendo to provide storage options that better align with each game's actual needs, rather than forcing developers to acquire pricey 64 GB media for relatively tiny games. Nintendo has also embraced a pricing model in which hard copies occasionally cost more than digital versions, a trade-off some collectors are willing to make. Often, there are pre-orders or promotional pricing for boxed releases, so you may be able to pick up a physical copy at a price similar to the eShop.

Third-party publishers may take a cue from this, providing premium-priced physical editions and slightly cheaper digital editions, and letting consumers choose the medium that suits them best.

The conversation also comes as tangible media struggles across the gaming industry. While other firms are still aggressively pushing toward digital-only distribution, Nintendo appears to be opening up options for full cartridge releases rather than pulling back. Supporters say “keeping a physical market healthy is good for everyone.” Selling used games increases competition, and publishers must offer deeper digital discounts as games age. In the absence of this secondary market, gamers may have fewer opportunities to buy games at lower prices. 

Nintendo has already committed to putting almost all of its Switch 2 first-party games on cartridge-only. Still, these suspected price changes might offer the same opportunity to third-party developers. If the claimed cartridge prices are accurate, the Switch 2 generation may eventually see a big surge in full physical releases, which will be good news for collectors and gamers who still appreciate a game beyond a digital download.