Nintendo says it will continue selling physical cartridges alongside digital, even as GTA 6 launches without discs.
Nintendo says it will continue offering physical games alongside digital releases on its platforms, even as GTA 6 launches without discs. The company emphasizes listening to consumer demand and keeping a dual-format strategy.
For everyday players, this means you can keep building a physical library if you want to, while digital games remain available. What happens next will depend on how strongly players value physical copies in the years ahead.
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Nintendo is not abandoning physical games. In a recent interview, Bill van Zyll, Vice President & General Manager of Nintendo Latin America, stated that there are no plans to remove physical media. He cited the Nintendo Switch 2 as an example where games appear in both physical and digital formats, signaling Nintendo’s intention to keep that dual-path approach for now.
This stance comes amid industry chatter that major players are leaning more toward digital distribution. For context, GTA 6 is planned to launch without a physical disc, underscoring a broader shift in some parts of the market. Nintendo’s comment suggests a different path: players who value owning a tangible copy will still have options on Nintendo platforms in the coming years.
The interview noted that Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has described a business heavily geared toward digital sales. Van Zyll emphasized a consumer-first approach, saying Nintendo bases its strategy on what players prefer and what works best for each hardware cycle.
For now, the Switch 2 will continue to support physical cartridges in addition to digital downloads. Fans who like collecting, trading, or lending games will still have clear ways to own and manage copies. Physical releases also provide an offline option and can protect against interruptions to online services.
The Switch 2 example shows Nintendo intends to maintain both formats for the foreseeable future. That means consumers can expect a mix of cartridges and digital purchases from Nintendo’s online store, without forcing a digital-only ecosystem.
While some publishers chase digital margins and easier updates, Nintendo’s message centers on choice. The company has a long history of balancing new hardware with a healthy catalog of physical titles, which sells well over time. Keeping physical formats helps Nintendo reach players who still want a tangible product and flexibility in how they play.
If you prefer owning physical copies, you’re not being left behind. You’ll still be able to buy Switch 2 games on shelves or from retailers that stock cartridges, and you can lend or trade those copies as you like. If you lean digital, your usual downloads from Nintendo’s storefront stay available too.
Nintendo’s stance will hinge on ongoing consumer demand. If buyers keep favoring physical copies, Nintendo will likely keep offering them. If the market shifts decisively toward digital-only, the company could adapt, but for now it reiterates physical media remains a core option.
Yes. Nintendo says there are no plans to ditch physical media, so the Switch 2 will offer both cartridges and digital formats.
The move reflects a broader push toward digital distribution; Nintendo’s stance shows there isn’t a single path for all major publishers.
What to watch next: See whether other publishers expand digital-only launches or continue supporting physical copies on major platforms.
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