Imagine stumbling upon a tantalizing secret about Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 that could shake up the gaming world—but wait, was it just a slip of the keyboard? That's the buzz surrounding a recent announcement from retro game publisher ININ Games, and it's got everyone in the gaming community scratching their heads. Dive in with me as we unpack this mystery, and trust me, you'll want to stick around for the twists.
Jay Peters is a seasoned reporter at The Verge, specializing in tech, gaming, and beyond. He joined our team in 2019 after honing his skills at Techmeme for nearly two years.
Picture this: On Friday, ININ Games, the folks behind retro and arcade hits, dropped a bombshell post. They excitedly shared that they'd managed to 'recalculate production' for a physical edition of their game R-Type Dimensions III on the Switch 2. The reason? They claimed, 'Two days ago, Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2.' Now, for those new to this, physical games on Nintendo consoles traditionally come on those little plastic cartridges you insert into the system—think of them as tiny storage devices holding the game data. But on the Switch 2, this has been a hot-button issue. Developers reportedly find full physical cartridges pricey to produce, while the alternative, game-key cards, doesn't actually store the game on the card itself; instead, it's more like a digital voucher that unlocks the download, which can feel less 'real' to collectors.
But here's where it gets controversial—turn out, ININ Games quickly backpedaled later that day. They removed the line about new cartridge sizes and issued a major correction on X (formerly Twitter) here: (https://x.com/ININ_Games/status/2002062795857174721). In it, they clarified, '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.' Despite the retraction, they're still pressing ahead with the physical Switch 2 version of R-Type Dimensions III—though they'll be adding a €10 bump to the retail price to make it work.
Nintendo, for their part, hasn't responded to our requests for comment yet. Solid details on why so many developers shy away from full-cartridge releases are scarce, but the prevailing theory points to cost. To help beginners grasp this, think of it like this: Producing a physical cartridge involves manufacturing these specialized storage units, which can drive up expenses for game makers, especially for indie or smaller studios. In May, a Brazilian journalist from the Nintendo scene uncovered some insider info based on leaks from Arc System Works. They revealed that Nintendo initially offered developers just two options for physical games: a hefty 64GB cartridge and the game-key card (for more on what those key cards entail, check out our explainer here: https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/643635/nintendo-switch-2-game-key-cards-explained). Adding to the intrigue, YouTube channel Physical Paradise chimed in with their take (watch the video here: https://youtu.be/x1wCUjEwklg?si=PhTU7qqhdB_t7nFT&t=274), estimating that the price tag for a single physical cartridge comes in at around $16—a figure they describe as 'quite expensive.'
Weighing in on the drama, Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad jumped on X in response to ININ Games' initial post about these cartridge sizes (see his thoughts here: https://x.com/ZhugeEX/status/2002066817704194487). He bluntly stated, 'cost was always the primary factor between key cards vs full cart releases.' And this is the part most people miss—it's not just about the dollars; it could be tied to broader industry shifts, like supply chain costs.
Curious about the real scoop on Switch 2 cartridge prices? If you've got insider knowledge, shoot me an email at jay.peters@theverge.com or reach out on Signal at @jaypeters.11. We'd love to hear it!
It's still a puzzle why Nintendo might introduce more affordable cartridge options now, or if they're even considering it. New York University games professor Joost van Dreunen offers an insightful perspective: He suggests it could stem from the climbing prices of memory components (as we've covered in our report on PC RAM shortages here: https://www.theverge.com/news/839353/pc-ram-shortage-pricing-spike-news). In his view, this move might be 'in anticipation of memory going up in cost soon, allowing Nintendo to charge a more reasonable price especially for third-party games.' It's a clever angle, but is it the full story? Some might argue Nintendo is just trying to boost sales by making physical games more viable, while others could see it as a way to cut corners on digital exclusives. What do you think—does this revelation change how you feel about physical vs. digital gaming? Is Nintendo finally listening to developers, or is this just hype? Drop your thoughts in the comments below; I'm eager to hear agreements, disagreements, or fresh theories!
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- Jay Peters
