The Switch 2’s data-free, download-able game key cards have proven controversial with players who worry about issues with long-term ownership and access to their purchases. But they remain popular among publishers who want to save production costs on boxed Switch 2 game releases, as the game’s key cards do not include any of the expensive flash memory found on standard Switch 2 cartridges.
Now, however, at least one publisher has publicly suggested that Nintendo is introducing cheaper Switch 2 cartridge options with smaller storage capacities, which would reduce production costs which could make full cartridge releases more viable for many games on the console.
Earlier this week, R-Type Dimension III Publisher Inin Games explained to customers that it could not switch from game cards to “full physical cartridges” for the retail version of Switch 2 games without a “significant increase”.[ing] manufacturing cost. Those additional costs “will force us to increase the retail price by at least €15 [about $20]“Inin Games wrote at the time.
However, in an update posted on social media earlier today, the publisher said that “There’s no better time than now: two days ago Nintendo announced two new mini cartridges [storage capacity] Sized for Nintendo Switch 2. “It allows us to recalibrate production in a way that wasn’t possible before.”
As such, Inin stated that it has decided to replace the game’s key cards that come in the game’s retail box with full physical cartridges. That change will result in the game’s asking price increasing by €10 (about $13) “due to production costs still being high,” Inin said. Nevertheless, this is still less than the “at least €15” Inin was estimating for the same change a few days ago. And Inin said early pre-orders are for customers R-Type Dimension III No need to pay the inflated price, essentially get the full cartridge at no extra cost.
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