Which publishers use Game-Key Cards on Switch 2?
By Daniel del Moral Hernández · Updated October 7, 2026
Whether a physical Switch 2 game has the full game on the cartridge depends above all on who publishes it. We checked the physical format of every new Switch 2 game in the GameSpecsDB database, and the pattern by publisher is very clear.
The numbers
New Switch 2 games in our database in October 2026, by publisher and physical format:
| Publisher | Full cartridge | Game-Key Card | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo | 11 | 2 | 2 digital only |
| Square Enix | 0 | 15 | — |
| SEGA | 0 | 13 | — |
| CAPCOM | 0 | 9 | — |
| NIS America | 0 | 8 | — |
| Bandai Namco | 0 | 9 | — |
| THQ Nordic | 0 | 6 | — |
| KOEI TECMO | 0 | 5 | — |
| Ubisoft | 0 | 5 | — |
| Electronic Arts | 0 | 4 | 1 code in box, 1 digital only |
| 2K | 0 | 4 | 1 code in box |
| Bethesda | 2 | 0 | 1 code in box |
Across all new Switch 2 games we track, Game-Key Cards are the most common physical format by far. Most large third-party publishers in our database have used them for every new Switch 2 game they have released so far.
Nintendo: mostly full cartridges
Nintendo’s own games are the safest bet if you want a real cartridge: Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, Splatoon Raiders and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave all have the full game on the card. Even so, Nintendo is not 100% consistent, so it still pays to check the game page.
The third-party exceptions
Some third-party publishers do put the full game on the cartridge, even for large games:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition (CD PROJEKT RED), 60.6 GB
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Bethesda), 58.7 GB
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Bethesda), 57.3 GB
- Lies of P: Complete Edition (NEOWIZ), 37.6 GB
- Stellar Blade Complete Edition (SHIFT UP), 25.4 GB
- Smaller releases from publishers such as PM Studios, Atari, Dotemu and Digital Eclipse
Those big ones show that a full cartridge is possible for large games; it is a cost decision by the publisher. Larger cartridges cost more to make, and a Game-Key Card lets a publisher sell a boxed copy without paying for one.
Why it matters to you
| If you care about | Prefer |
|---|---|
| Playing without a download, or with a slow connection | Full cartridge |
| Saving storage space | Full cartridge |
| Lending, reselling or trading in | Full cartridge or Game-Key Card |
| Lowest price | Whichever is cheapest: the download is the same |
A third format is worse for collectors: a download code in the box, used for some games such as Split Fiction, Diablo IV and Fallout 4. It has no cartridge at all and becomes a digital purchase once redeemed. See every code-in-box game.
How to check a game
- Look for the Game-Key Card mark on the front of the box.
- Check the game page on GameSpecsDB, which shows the physical format with a source.
- Browse the lists: full cartridge, Game-Key Card and code in box.
Publishers can also change course for future releases, and the same game can come out in different formats in different regions, so always check the specific game and region before you buy.
Sources: physical format sources are linked on each game page (publisher announcements, Nintendo Life, Nintendo Everything). Data: GameSpecsDB database, October 2026.