Pre-orders are live Nintendo Switch 2 games in Japan, and the notes that have been attached to all third-party releases so far have been quite concerning. The game is listed as a game key card, and what Nintendo has revealed is a new term for games that require downloads before playing. In other words, you cannot insert the cartridge. Rather, it acts as a “key” that unlocks the game to download through an internet connection.
Gematsu reported in a tweet that so far, all physical third-party games listed for pre-orders in Japan are classified as one of these game key cards. CyberPunk 2077 is the only exception.
Pre-orders for Switch 2 games are running for several hours in Japan and reveal all physical third-party games (except Cyberpunk 2077 so far) that are not “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.” pic.twitter.com/vof6gwok4j
– gematsu (@gematsu) April 23, 2025
VGC has confirmed that Japanese online store Yodobashi has the following games listed as game keycard releases according to the box art logo.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Demon x Masina: Titanic Scion Kunitsu Gami: Goddess Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S Raidou Readou’s Road Road Road: Be your idol! Sonic X Shadow Generations Street Fighter 6 Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Survival Kids Yakuza 0: Director Cut
After the initial confusion over the number of releases that will become game key cards, Nintendo later said, “The physical version of the Nintendo Switch 2 edition game will contain the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade packs all on the same game card.”
“Alternatively, some publishers may release Nintendo Switch 2 edition games as physical package download code without a game card,” said a Nintendo representative.
It is not yet known how many games will be placed west in the cartridge. So far, Street Fighter 6 and the Bravely Default Flying Fairy have been confirmed to be game key cards from other regions. Today’s news may indicate that third-party releases could expand beyond these two.
So far, upgraded versions of the OG Nintendo Switch title with upgrades have been confirmed to be all on cartridges: The Legend of Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime 4, Kirby, Forgotten Land, Mario Party Jamboree + TV.
