Nintendo Switch 2 Physical Carts vs "Key-Carts" — And the Rising Cost of Physical vs Digital Games

Update 4/3/2025: This post discusses reports that digital games would be cheaper than Physical, official reports are now indicating that this is not true for the USA; and that both Digital and Physical copies of games will cost the same.

TL;DR While Nintendo is offering full physical game carts for the Switch 2, they are also introducing new "Key-Carts" that act more like physical license keys than full game cartridges. Here's what you need to know:

Full physical carts still exist — like Mario Kart World with full game data on the cart.
Key-Carts require a download and act as a license check — no data on the cart itself.
You must keep the Key-Cart inserted to play the downloaded game.
They can be sold, traded, and loaned, but are ultimately tied to Nintendo's server availability.
Key-Carts will eventually become unusable, unlike true physical games.
Physical games may cost $10 more than digital, potentially ending digital/physical price parity.
At Curiosity, we’ll sell and trade these with clear labeling and benefits to our community.

The information contained in this post is based on current Nintendo press releases and reporting from across the internet. Some of this may change as more official information becomes available, and we’ll update our policies and recommendations accordingly.

Full Physical Cartridges Are Still Alive (For Now)

Let’s start with the good news: The Nintendo Switch 2 will continue to support full physical cartridges. Titles like Mario Kart World are confirmed to be launching on traditional carts, with all game data stored onboard. Nintendo has even invested in higher-quality carts this time around, with faster load times and improved durability.

This means physical media isn't dead — but it’s also evolving.

What Are "Key-Carts" and How Do They Work?

Key-Carts look like physical Switch cartridges but do not contain the actual game data. Instead:

You insert the Key-Cart into your Switch 2.
Connect to the internet and download the full game.
You must keep the Key-Cart inserted to play — it's a physical license key.

Things to Know:

Only one download required.
You can loan, sell, and trade the Key-Cart.
If you lose or damage the cart, you lose access to the game, even if it’s already installed.

On paper, this seems like a reasonable compromise. Nintendo looks slightly more consumer-friendly than Microsoft or Sony by allowing you to resell and share a game. But this system has major flaws.

The Pros of Key-Carts

You can trade, lend, or sell them.
They still come in a case with a physical item.
They give indie devs and budget publishers a cheaper way to get into retail.

The Cons — And Why We’re Concerned

If a game is delisted or licensing expires, downloads will be disabled.
Nintendo could disable a license remotely, even if the game is installed.
Once the servers go offline, they’re dead weight.
Preservation is impossible with this model.

It’s clear: these are not real physical games. They are DRM-wrapped license tokens. Sure, they work today. But they absolutely will not work in 10–20 years, and we believe customers deserve better.

Nintendo vs Sony vs Microsoft (and PC)

Microsoft: All-digital consoles, no disc drive options. Grade: F
Sony: Disc drive optional, but confusing upgrade path. Grade: C
Nintendo: At least giving you a cart — but Key-Carts are a step backward. Grade: B

PC? It’s its own world, full of DRM, storefront competition, piracy, and exceptions. We don’t compare consoles to PCs. If you’re bragging about piracy wins, that’s not ownership — it’s denial.

Pricing: The Real Kicker

It appears that physical games will cost around $10 more than their digital counterparts on Switch 2.

Why?

Possibly tariff-related (minor reason).
Inflation — games used to be more expensive (Super Street Fighter II was $90 in 1994 — that’s $192 in today’s money!).
Real carts are expensive to manufacture.

Still, this is the first time we've lost price parity between digital and physical — and that matters. It creates confusion, limits access, and drives consumers toward digital-only.

If Nintendo wants to charge more for physical, we expect manuals, inserts, or bonuses in the box again. Otherwise, it feels like a cash grab.

Even with that said — paying $10 more to actually own your game, lend it, trade it, and resell it? That’s still the smarter financial decision.

So yes — we’re demoting Nintendo from an A to a low B.

Will Key-Carts Cost More Than Digital?

We seriously hope not.

Key-Carts should exist as a budget path for indie studios and small publishers — not an excuse to charge $60+ for a download and a plastic key.

We know some major publishers (cough Square Enix) will abuse this, but we’re watching closely.

Curiosity Games’ Approach to Key-Carts

We’re not happy about these, but we also won’t pretend they don’t exist. So here’s how we’re handling them:

We’ll offer preorders just like any other title.
We will accept them in trade, but only with clear labeling and inspection.
Members still receive 70% guaranteed trade-back value within 30 days of purchase.

We’ll also label them clearly in-store and online, so you know exactly what you’re buying.

Physical vs Digital: Mario Kart World @ Curiosity

Person A: Buys Mario Kart World digitally for $79.99

End-of-life value: $0
Can’t lend, trade, or sell
When the servers go down, game is gone

Person B: Curiosity Core Member

Buys it physically for $89.99
Gets 5% back instantly ($4.50)
Trades it back within 30 days = $62.99
Net cost to play: around $22.50

Person C: Buys it used at a discount and gets full access. Wins.

Final Thoughts

Nintendo is taking bold steps — some good, some misguided. As always, we’re here to help you make smart, financially responsible choices in your gaming journey.

At Curiosity, we believe in ownership, preservation, and value. We will adapt to this new landscape while protecting the things that matter to you as a player, collector, and human being who spends real money on real products.

We’re watching Key-Carts closely — and you can count on us to tell it like it is.

Stay curious. Stay informed.

– The Curiosity Games Team