Since the Nintendo Switch 2 was officially revealed last week, it’s sparked its fair share of controversy. While fans are excited about the upgraded hardware, certain changes raised eyebrows — especially the new “Key Cards”. Now, many are asking: Will it be impossible to lend or resell physical games with this new system?
A Price Hike — and a New Cartridge Format
The new hybrid console is launching at $499.99 USD, a price tag higher than most analysts expected. To make matters worse, games like Mario Kart World will cost up to $79.99 USD — a precedent that has some players worried about the future of physical games.
With prices rising, many gamers rely on second-hand markets or simply lend and borrow games with friends. That’s where concerns around the new Key Cards come in.
What Are Nintendo Switch 2 Key Cards?
Shortly after the console’s announcement, Nintendo introduced Game Key Cards — a new kind of cartridge that doesn’t contain full game data. Instead, these cards act more like physical authentication keys. Players will still need to insert the card every time they want to launch the game, even if it’s already installed.
Understandably, this raised alarms in the gaming community.
Would these Key Cards be locked to a specific account?
Would sharing or selling physical games become impossible?
Nintendo Confirms: Key Cards Aren’t Account-Locked
In an interview with GameSpot, Nintendo’s Tetsuya Sasaki, General Manager of Tech Development, addressed those concerns directly:
“Game Key Cards will launch the game on the system they’re inserted into. They aren’t tied to any Nintendo Account or anything like that.”
That means — at least for now — Key Cards can be shared or resold, just like traditional cartridges. It’s a relief for collectors and anyone who still prefers physical games.
Still, it remains unclear which titles will use Key Cards instead of full cartridges, or why Nintendo is splitting formats. We do know that some major releases, like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, will still come on standard cartridges.
What About Digital Games? You Can Share Those Too
Nintendo also revealed a new feature during the latest Nintendo Direct: Virtual Game Cards.
This system will let users load and unload digital games between different consoles, and even share games with members of a family plan. It’s a welcome change for households with multiple gamers — and a smart evolution of Nintendo’s online ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
While Nintendo still has more to clarify, it looks like game sharing on Switch 2 is safe — at least for now. The introduction of Key Cards adds a new layer to physical media, but they won’t be account-locked, and digital sharing is getting easier, not harder.
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