Elden Ring's Switch 2 Physical Version Seemingly Tarnished By 'Game-Key Card' Release

So you could say the Elden Ring game on Switch 2 is... tarnished. 😂

I'm already out the door.

When I see this vs. Cyberpunk 2077 having the FULL GAME on a 64GB card...that automatically flips Elden Ring off the game board.

Surely you didn't expect them to pay for a cart that could fit all of Elden Ring?

Well if true that's one game I won't be geting😒

I’m feeling more and more compelled to join the dark side (digital) as much as it pains me! Tho I know it’s not all bad,, I’m sad to admit physical game collecting is coming to an end.

It's a shame, but I don't know how big the game is with the DLC. Either way, it's not a deal breaker for me. Playing this game on a Switch is a dream come true.

It's honestly hard to be excited for the Switch 2 at the moment but hopefully things get somewhat better over here.

I think Game Keys are better than codes in a box at least. From what I understand you can at least lone them out and trade them and the case isn't useless plastic.

@AnnoyingFrenzy you could already kinda do this on the original Switch like games like La Noire and the 2K games basically not having most of the data on the cartridge and making it one big update. Honestly I feel like Key Cards may be enabling third party developers here. But idk things are crazy rn so yea...

Game Keys make Digital seem like a better purchase option. Regardless, considering prices and all, I'm not going to get the Switch 2 or its games anytime soon

@AnnoyingFrenzy On the other hand, it's actually a fully digital game that you can't play if you don't have the game card with you.

@Athropos Okay? Just buy the digital version then if that bothers you. You can't play physical games without the card either.

@neogyo Sadly I gave up physical game collections a while back, especially with companies like Take 2 putting incomplete games on the card and expecting you to download the rest. And I'm rather annoyed by the lack of regulation from the limited print physical games market, where some people waited years for the games they preordered.

@rjejr good one haha..

I only really buy first party games for my Switch on cartridge, when and if Nintendo stop full game carts is when I will stop buying them and just play all the games I've collected over the years.

We can play this game on Rog Ally X, with 90FPS. How many FPS on Switch 2?

@HammerKirby So you're basically saying this is just a new name for something that already exists currently? I don't remember there being THIS much backlash for those.

If the game can optimise around 20gb per game is ok

@AnnoyingFrenzy I'd actually like to buy the physical game, which will not be possible. You only have the choice between digital with game card and fully digital.

@Athropos Yup, I'd like to have a physical game too! But since that literally doesn't exist your choice is either a digital game permanently tied to the console or a game card that activates a digital game on multiple consoles.

i prefer physical 100% but it looks like so far many third party compabies will choose the digital route for switch 2 games which is upsetting..

Man this generation is already exhausting

Sadly this is such as industry standard with discs. The cd project red cart is the rare instance besides first party of the game being on the cart.

I suspect we're gonna see some type of crowdfunding service where folks pool money together to subsidize putting full [base] games on carts in the near future.

Something that straddles the lines between LRG and Makeship... Ideally without all the Limited Edition fluff so people arent waiting 50 years for their orders...

Bit of a shame Nintendo is entering the PC gaming sphere and losing some of its affordability and impulse buy range. I think a steam deck is overall cheaper if you’re playing games like cyberpunk or elden ring because of steam sales. So I’m a bit undecided with whether to buy this game on Switch

I’m still mainly interested to see which exclusives Nintendo will bring in upcoming year. Metroid Prime would now be the only reason for me to buy the Switch 2 this year. The other games can wait

Well this means they better give us bigger microsd ex card - bigger then 1tb and up to 4tb to store all those digital games.

Fine by me. I was absolutely ready to buy day 1 - but with prices being set at $100 in my local currency and the cart being a useless trinket offline - I’m happy skipping this. I already own it on Steam.

Never thought I'd say this: But I hope Limited RUn Games can pick up the slack when it comes to physical Switch 2 games.

Nintendo is doing everything it can to force people into buying games digitally.

This is supposed to be a new generation and their cartridge can't fit a PS4 game, it's pathetic.

The Switch 2 is becoming less appealing every day.

You’ll own nothing and be happy

I have my beautiful Elden Ring Day One Edition on Blu-ray for PS4 already. I don’t need that pseudo-cartridge scam.

Game key cards just seem like all of the inconvenience of physical versions [having to put the cart in], without any of the convenience of physical versions [not having to download]. Why?
If you just want the box itself as a collector's item, codes-in-a-box gave you that without the extra inconvenience!
If you want to lend out your digital games ... Nintendo literally announced a solution for that last week, and it doesn't even require a Switch 2! Now, there's a little finagling in that you have to bring the actual Switches together ... but this seems a bit extreme as a solution.
Just don't see any point, myself.

I'll probably get Cyberpunk just to support the actual game being on a cart.

@Friendly I've preordered Switch 2 but sure as hell won’t buy digital from Nintendo with their track record. So mostly1st party stuff.

I'm going to get a SteamDeck with the cash I’ll save not buying these game key products.
I'd recommend this to everyone, sorry guys welcome to the future 😕

If all of Cyberpunk can fit, all of Elden Ring can. This is cheapness from From or Nintendo or both.

@CoastersPaul Game key cards can be resold. You can only lend virtual game cards for up to two weeks and have to have a period of physical proximity to the person that you are lending them to in order to provide them with a copy.

So, with game key cards, you could play the game, complete it and then stick it on eBay and sell it. The licence ‘key’ is on the cart and not tied to the download of the game.

I hope these companies realize how many sales they're going to be losing by doing this crap. Lame lame lame.

Yeah if the game is bigger than 64GB and compressing it would compromise it then fair enough but tbh I doubt it. Please don’t buy these digital game keycards as they are an inconvenient download you’re actually better off buying it on the eshop

@Ajent yeah, I don’t think the game key card thing is a bad idea bur to me, it’s kinda unnecessary. Especially when I can just game digitally which is easier I guess.

Well obviously, the game is far too big to fit on a cartridge! Still gonna get it mind you, never did take to digital games.

So it begins, RIP collectors.

This’ll be the last generation with physical games of any kind I reckon. Sad.

Can someone please confirm whether game key carts:

• act to unlock the digital version, tying it to your account, and additionally requiring you to have the cart inserted to play the game, or
• acts to download the entire game (ala bioshock 2 and infinite) but isn't tied to your account and can be loaned out to friends and they can also download and play the game as long as they have the cart inserted?

Just wanting to check as if it's the second we've already crossed that bridge many many times

Ew... ew ew ew ew ew EW!!

I can kind of understand it for this game as it's probably real big but I still don't like it. Gonna need to think if I still want games that come on these stupid things.

I do hope that it's indeed just a placeholder and not the actual case.

@Zuljaras Bravo! Thanks for that.

And for all those saying they might as well get a SteamDeck instead - did I miss something? Is Valve doing physical media now? Are Zelda, Mario, Smash etc coming to the Deck? (Do see the point on slightly superior Steam sales, admittedly)

@Zuljaras Thank you for taking the effort to inquire about this.

Whats the fuss of having a plastic box on your shelfs taking up space.

I love the all digital future with games and films ❤️

@Paddle1 No, I expected us to.

@Deerock69 likewise, it can wait for a sale now

@Krull gotta love the steam sales, until you see your library of a 1000+ games…

i was so excited for this but now I'm skipping

Just buy the download?

Let’s face it. It’s going to run pretty poor anyway

@JackieCMarlow yep, i reckon maybe 10 sales....

Other than enthusiasts, no one cares and I'd be surprised if we make of 2% of the market.

@rjejr Damn, knew I'd have been beaten to it by the first post.

This should have been expected really, the clue is right there in the name of the game.

@rjejr I scrolled down looking for that comment. Right out the gate. Not disappointed.

huge bummer for me. not gonna buy key cards, lol. guess I will have to wait a couple more years now to play eldenring and get it digitally when its dirt cheap, welp

On reflection, I don't really care about this too much. It happened a lot in the Switch era and well I still bought a tonne of games.

Even 1st party stuff got later additions that mean the whole game isn't on the original cart.

My only concern with this is that storage on Switch 2 is going to be at a premium. I'd have paid more to have a option for another 256gb on board storage because some of these titles are going to eat through the current storage and micro sd express is also pretty expensive.

Not sure whether I'll buy the 'physical' or digital versions yet.

Any game not on a cartridge is a hard pass for me. I was curious about Elden Ring, but I waited this long. It’s gotta be

1) Full game on cart or
2) A game I’m 100% going to love and play starting today or
3) Cheaper than dirt (for Elden ring that’s probably under $10).

@AnonyQ The second from what I understand.

@Skunkfish @Mana_Knight The same pun is also in the title of the article!

Now we know for sure : it IS the last generation for physical video games. I always knew this day would come, but I was not suspecting IN ANY WAY that Nintendo would be the one hammering the last nail in the coffin.

I'm excited about the Switch 2. I am.

But at the same time, I'm kinda sad.

It's the end of an era. Time to accept it, I guess.

@Paddle1 no because it’s the consumer that pays for the cart cost.

I won't be buying one single damn game key-card ever. I don't care what the game is, it won't be happening. There'll be plenty of other games out there vying for my money that I can buy that won't be doing this sad bs.

Yeah I'm supporting Cyberpunk 2077 instead with full game on cartridge like I did on the Witcher 3 on Switch 1. Thanks CD Projekt Red!

@Rykdrew ROG Ally X is like £800! I would hope it could play it at 240fps for that price! Does the full game come on a cartridge though?

@Slain Going pure digital? Good choice....

@Skunkfish No, I'm going purely physical.

@Zuljaras Thanks for doing some genuine journalism!

@Slain I genuinely hope that works out for you!

I do wonder if you'll be missing out on some big games though....

And this is a launch game.

Gues the Switch2 will fail from the very beginning.

Nothing it introduced aside specs was positive

@Slain
I wonder how much "physical" will be left.

I bet Square Enix will release 0 on cart games and big games will always be gamekeycards

Profit maximization

We lost.

So you pay higher price for a game in store that you have to download than buying digital? Ok got it

@Alcea

Plus points:

• Nice specs (as you mentioned) - bigger screen, 120FPS, 4K, HDR, 10x more powerful
• Strong third party support
• Game chat
• Switch Pro controllers and Joy cons will work (wasn't expecting this)
• Gamecube games at launch (including F-Zero GX)
• Virtual game cards (a blessing for us as a family with four Switches)
• Mouse control
• New Mario Kart
• New 3D Donkey Kong
• Strong third party support

Negative points:

• Games expensive (but I expect the prices to come down, at least in the UK, once the retailers start competing with each other)
• Need to pay £6 (or not) for a game/experience that should be included.
• Not too much else for me. Very excited!

@KociolekDoSyta thank you. So sort of like the "DOWNLOAD REQUIRED" information boxes currently on switch games

@Alcea @Skunkfish Yeah sometimes I miss out on some games but I've got hundreds of games already and a backlog to get through so it's not too big a deal. Besides, I've got other hobbies that keep me busy.

@anoyonmus yeah, I agree. I personally have no issue with digital games and I’m probably half and half of digital vs physical. But I game on PC as well, so I’m very used to being a digital gamer.

But those that don’t like digital, I guess this is a good half way measure? Maybe? It’s at least better than the ‘code in a box’ games.

I will support CD projekt red, not this.

Do these game card keys not at least mean the games can be resold?

Cause that is a step up over download codes from Switch 1.

Who cares? It's the full game and not a cloud version. That's all that matters

Like others have said, CD Projekt Red deserves kudos for releaseing Cyberpunk complete on cart. I'll be picking up a copy at some point.

Tariffs are going to shake up physical media in a big way.

There may be a way to dodge tariffs on digital realises if you sign over the IP to a US-based entity and delivered digitally.

At least this is much better than buying the game digitally. Also a major improvement over the "code in the box" releases on the original Switch.

It may not be ideal, but it's not the worst thing in the world either.

@KoopaTheGamer Code in a box will be there for Switch 2 as well. So 3 types in general.

And so it begins. These companies will not do right by gamers. They don't want us actually owning the games we purchase. Expect a high percentage of game key nonsense. Nintendo and other publishers want an all digital future

@AllBLK you can sell the cart or lend it to someone else and it will work, they'll just need to download de game.

It's no differing than games needing some day one update for playing. The difference is you download the whole game data before playing.

This has been happening since PS4 and Xbox One days, because discs read were very slow for some games.

Why is it wrong now with Switch 2? It will be only third parties that do this, and yeah, a greedy move on their part (because a switch 2 cartridge read speed is as fast as internal memory read), but hey, that's what it is.

after reading some info i suppose it beats the alternative of a code in a box.. though i still prefer the game on the cart like what cyberpunk will be..many third party companies will use this as a way to save money i mean square enix seriously did not want to put a 11 gig bravely default on a switch cart..

This practice doesn't make supporting digital releases any more appealing, especially with Express MicroSD cards costing as much as they do. Just charge the extra $10-20 FFS.

What I wish Nintendo would have done is produce writeable cartridges that the Switch/Switch 2 could download games to, so upon purchase via the eShop, the game is downloaded to and tied to the cartridge rather to the user's Nintendo account, allowing users to potentially download multiple games to a single cartridge (along with its DLC/updates), and such cartridges can be lent and/or resold, but encrypted so that they cannot be freely duplicated.

This would be different to downloading to the internal storage or microSD card as the writeable cartridge acts much in the same way as a retail Switch cartridge, but users can download whatever games they like to them and use them across multiple consoles, and without online authentication.

There's also Marvelous. Marvelous is the only third party publisher that isn't using key carts for any of its announced games (though apparently Story of Seasons will require day 1 patch of Super Switch)

I probably won’t be buying as many games for my switch which is good considering the prices. Third party games I’ll get for Xbox, which I only buy for digitally. I just always liked the switch carts. I may get me a new oled model soon since I’ve only ever had my launch switch. One of my joy cons drifts and it could use an upgrade. I have such a large game collection for it and I’m starting to think I won’t be able to play all of my games, especially the limited print or import ones.

In regards to Cyberpunk:
No download required...
I wonder if that means there are optional downloads...

It sucks that in order to even play some offline games (ha) that you now NEED internet!

From September to mid February, I was living in a place that had NO Internet. We couldn't have it installed either!

Stores around us had poopy internet service if it even worked.
In most places, I couldn't even get my Switch to connect.

An all digital future sucks the fun out of any and all hobbies!

I will get it to play it on the go. Not worried if it is digital, on card or physical.

@Spider-Kev That's the problem here, when I'm buying physical I just want to put it inside of a console and play it. I don't care about patches if game allows me to play it from the start to the end then I'm happy and this is how it should be. Not some new game-key card stupid invention.

So two From Software games, but one doesn't even have a real physical version, alienating a lot of potential early purchasers, and the other is some weird multiplayer thing and not a real Soulslike.

The monkey's paw curls.

Ugh. Hate it already. Also don't forget, we're not talking 2-3 GB day one patches here. We're talking 20+ GB games to download here. So you get the game and depending on your internet connection you might be playing it the next day at the earliest.

@Spider-Kev CDPR said something about optional language packs that can be downloaded for free, kinda like the Polish pack for Witcher 3. I remember buying TW3 for Switch right around the time of release and being impressed that it didn't have a day-one patch, although I wish they had one, as the game looked like my Switch/TV was smeared with grease (there were no graphics toggles) and the neat touchscreen functionality was missing in the initial version.

Unless we can get affordable 1tb or 2tb sd express cards. This isn't a good deal. Also Switch 2 should have expandable storage from 256 to 512 at least this. I will wait until they put a full game cart and then sd express for update then I will consider this. Wasn't the key-card suppose to have a label clearly saying so? But the PA doesn't show the label on the front of the package even if computer generated.

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-Switch-2/Nintendo-Switch-2-Game-Key-Cards-2785635.html?srsltid=AfmBOooYhQs0mht1uZd712fb-UzTfHGQUIt8JQ3d4BbQ-QFh0l2TLGpM

@Skunkfish i dont like cartridges. A dont care about the Rog Ally x price, because the games are cheap.

I also have Stem Deck Oled.

My Switch Oled + 30 games is more expensive than my Steam Deck and 80 games.

Now i have 432 or 433 games on Steam.

Rog Ally, long term, is cheaper than Switch 2, because the game prices.

I have Elden Ring for $19, not $80
I have Cyberpunk for $14, not $80.

Switch 2 is cheaper than Rog Ally X = illusion.

@JohnnyMind unless the game is removed online meaning your key card game would be worthless for any resale value..

And so it begins...

This bites. If this is true, I will go from someone who beat Elden Ring (base game) last night for the first time, but was still going to pick it up for S2 to collect it and to pick away at between other games, to not even considering buying it.

If this is the way things are going for Switch 2, I can safely just hold off on purchasing anything.

Just gotta throw this out since people parrot the “it’s already like this on PS5”…it’s not. The majority of games, that are not primarily multiplayer, have a build of the game on the disc that can be installed, launched, and completed without ever being connected to the internet.

Game-Key cards will function as online DRM for a physical copy, not to mention pointlessly bloating your console's storage. It's the worst possible form of every scenario, and a horrible new development for Switch 2.

@rjejr No no, come back! That was the perfect pun 😜 Just the comedic relief we need after such bad news!

@johnedwin Game-Key cards are actually even more pointless than a code in the box, because at least you get to collect the box art if you really want to, while maintaining the convenience of booting up a digital copy without a cartridge.

Prefer physical games but I would take digital over a key card, regardless of any resale ability.

This pushed me over the edge, and as a physical collector, I finally jumped ship and got a PS5 (my last Sony home console was PS2). I know I can’t avoid it forever and that PS5 is not a perfect solution, but I’m determined to keep collecting physical games for as long as I can, and I’m steering clear of digital ones or key card whatever cards.

@Shiiva cyber punk is just as large as elden ring and its coming fully on a cart. there is no excuse.

@Jarl76 People have every right to not trust these corporations. They never act in the best interest of the consumers. Joy con drift was a serious issue that Nintendo ignored for a long time until a class action lawsuit was brought against them. They only did the "right" thing because they were forced to when it came to repairs. Some companies are already removing digital games and media from that platforms that people have purchased. You don't actually own a digital game, but just the license to play it. If Nintendo ever removed digital copies of Zelda the backlash would indeed be devastating but they will more than likely come out on top by claiming consumers never actually owned the game(s). We're in a precarious situation with the current state of the game industry. Companies really don't want to keep manufacturing physical games and want everyone to embrace an all digital future where they (the companies) have all the control.

@snichelsticks True... I'm sure the reason will come out later on, but I'm still happy to have some kind of cartridge I can sell, share with friends, etc...

I download all my games, therefore unburdened by controversies such as these!

@neogyo Because people like you that cave.

@Krull - For one, you can play a lot of games on it.
2 - You can earn achievements on it
3- You can mod your games on it
4- No additional expenses to play online with most games
5- Games are regularly on sale and it's rare to see a title over 70 bucks
6 - So many buttons and options to mod mapping
7 - You can record footage on it.
8 - So many compatible add-ons that don't cost you and arm/leg.
9- No failed gimmicks that are a decade old
10- No monetized button.
11- Not all titles can be shared, but the ones who can have zero hoops to jump through.
12- Is it affected by tariffs as much?
13 - General better performance.

If we are going to an all digital future, the deck is where the value is. Even the old, discontinued models offer more

Not sure if I am buying as I usually bounce off of souls games but will get digital if I do.

This should not be allowed, it's environmentally irresponsible. Not only is there a carbon footprint for the plastic and transport, the game will likely be downloaded multiple times, giving one copy a higher carbon footprint over its lifespan.

I love collecting games, and I know people think a physical copy is bad for the environment, but I think they'd be surprised to find out how bad downloading full games is too, especially multiple times.

No full game on cartridge, NO BUY! Nintendo didn’t learn their lesson in the past 8years it seems!!!!!!

@Olmectron So what happens when Nintendo inevitably shuts down the servers? Your "physical" key card is useless.😐 This is an anti consumer move no matter which company does it. It's also wasteful to manufacture and ship pieces of plastic that has no real use but to digitally download a game.

@AllBLK I can still download games from my Wii's online shop. I also can still download 3DS digital games I bought on the eShop.

If I can still download games 15 years after the Switch 2 release, I'm good.

I don't think I'll be alive in 100 years for getting worried about when Switch 2 servers are gone. At that time, everything else will probably be long gone.

@johnedwin That doesn't work like that. Gameboy Tetris was removed from the 3DS eShop some time before the 3DS eShop closure. As I bought it before it was removed from being sold, I still was able to re-download it.

In fact, currently in 2025, I can still re-download Tetris in my 3DS, even after eShop closure.

I also can re-download WiiWare games I purchased in my Wii nowadays.

19 years after Switch 2 release for re-downloading games would be great. No need to be 100+ years re-downloadable.

I might buy a Switch 2 Eventually but if the game is not on the cart, I will not buy that game.
PERIOD.

As someone who often still plays my 3DS/DS and all my old Nintendo consoles, this WILL directly affect me when they shut the servers down in 10 years or so.

I am planning on leaving my game collection to my daughter someday so I have a vested interest in those games being playable. Whether she keeps them to play or sells them is up to her but they will be hers to decide what to do with, not Nintendo's decision.

People need to grow some balls and speak with their wallets. I hear so much of "well this sucks but I'll give them money anyway". Look what happened with Alan Wake 2. People protested the no physical copy and sales tanked. What did Remedy do? They came out with a physical copy to appease a portion of people that refused to buy the product.

If you say you don't support a behavior, you can't turn around and just say "well I'm going to support it anyway and hope the giant money making corporation will just do the right thing"

Nintendo offers (from what I know) 8GB - 64GB on the new S2 carts to third party game publishers. They might even have a 128GB card (unconfirmed).

A 64gb high speed SD card can be gotten for $10 these days on Amazon. Nintendo's carts are probably cheaper. They are probably charging $2-3 bucks for a 64GB card wholesale.

Many of these third party games can fit on a 64gb card. But you are seeing these games announced as download keys on 8GB carts with Switch 2...and they will be $80-$90 !

Bravely Default literally says the cart requires a full game download of "11GB".....11 GB !!!! They couldn't be bothered to fit that on a cart.

Street Fighter 6 requires a full game download of "50GB" ?!?!? ...why can't that fit on the 64GB cart ? Cyberpunk 2077 will apparently be on the cart and be upwards of 60GB so we know it can be done!

Elden ring PS4 version is 45GB on disc....yet this is this a Game Key Card on Switch 2. Why is FromSoft and Nintendo requiring a download of the full game?

Why?...That is the question you should ask yourself and you know the answer already.

GREED + CONTROL