Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 console is introducing a new twist in how players can access and share digital games—one that might just bring back the spirit of borrowing and reselling physical media in the digital age.
At the heart of this innovation are the new game-key cards, which, despite looking like traditional cartridges, don’t actually contain a full game. Instead, they serve as a bridge between digital downloads and physical game ownership. During the Switch 2 reveal event, Nintendo’s Tetsuya Sasaki confirmed to GameSpot that these key cards are not permanently tied to any single Nintendo account. That means they can be used across multiple consoles—making them borrowable, rentable, and even resellable.
Sasaki explained that the key card “will start up on the console or system that it is slotted into,” with no account linking required. This differs significantly from current Switch download codes, which are one-time-use and permanently associated with a specific account. In contrast, game-key cards act more like a license on a physical device: insert the card, download the game, and as long as the card remains inserted, the game is playable.
Nintendo’s support documentation also confirms that an internet connection is only required the first time the game is launched after downloading. After that, the game can be played offline, provided the card stays in the console. This setup keeps the physical presence of the game relevant while still relying on digital storage, sidestepping the limitations of internal storage and the 64GB cap of traditional game cartridges.
Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser told The Verge that this hybrid model benefits publishers, especially those whose games are too large for standard cartridges. It gives them a way to distribute titles at retail without sacrificing size or format—and opens up the used game market for digital-first titles.
For players, this means a return to more flexible game sharing. Whether it’s lending a friend a new title or reselling games after finishing them, Switch 2 owners may find themselves enjoying perks that have been largely lost in the era of digital-only gaming.
Still, the format is not without compromises. Although you avoid single-use download codes, you’re still tethered to the need for both an internet connection for setup and the physical card to play. It’s a middle ground that doesn’t fully resolve the downsides of either format but does give players and retailers more options—and more freedom.
In an industry where digital ownership often comes with restrictions, Nintendo’s game-key cards mark a subtle but significant shift. If adopted widely, they could redefine how gamers think about ownership, portability, and the digital-physical divide.
