Nintendo has said it has no plans to move away from physical games on the Switch 2, in what is the first response from one of the three console makers since Sony announced it would stop manufacturing PlayStation discs from January 2028. Sony’s decision drew a strong reaction across the games industry, and until now Nintendo and Microsoft had not commented. The comments came from Bill van Zyll, Nintendo’s vice president and general manager for Latin America, during an interview with Brazilian YouTuber Coelho no Japão. His answer gives Switch 2 owners some clarity at a time when the future of physical media has become a major topic among players.
Van Zyll said Nintendo has historically been agnostic about formats and gives heavy weight to what consumers prefer. He pointed out that the Switch 2 launched only a little over a year ago and supports both digital and physical games, and said there are “no plans to ditch physical.” He added that Nintendo knows how much its fans like physical releases. Nintendo’s audience is generally more inclined towards physical games than players on PlayStation or Xbox. Many Switch 2 titles also ship with a Game-Key Card, a physical cartridge that works as a key to download the game rather than storing it. Unlike a normal download code, the card is not permanently tied to one account or console, so it can be lent, traded or resold in the same way as a conventional cartridge.
The executive also spoke about regional habits, saying physical games are especially strong in Latin America and in Brazil. He said sales vary widely by game, and factors such as availability and wider circumstances play a part. He noted that digital sales rose during the COVID period, when many people stayed at home and downloading was simple, but said the region leans more towards physical copies. He linked this preference to collectibility and the ease of sharing games, while also mentioning that Switch 2 supports Game Share, which lets players share digital games too. He said both formats have their advantages and that he hopes fans make use of Game Share.
With Sony set to end disc production and Nintendo committing to physical releases, attention is turning to Microsoft, which has not said what it plans for the future of discs. Xbox players are generally seen as more comfortable with digital purchases, partly because of the Game Pass subscription. An earlier rumour suggested Microsoft might keep physical discs for its Project Helix console to win goodwill with core gamers, but this has not been confirmed. For now, Nintendo’s statement means that Switch 2 buyers can expect physical editions of games to remain available alongside digital versions, although Nintendo did not give a timeline for how long it expects to keep producing them, and it has not said whether Game-Key Cards will become more common over time.
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