Nintendo reaffirms commitment to physical media for Switch and Switch 2: "We know how much the fans like it"

Much has been said about the future of physical media, especially when it comes to games. Sony has announced that it's scrapping discs from 2028, Xbox is assessing whether to follow, and PC gamers are already very much used to digital-only purchases.

Even Rockstar will simply include a download code in the boxed copies of Grand Theft Auto VI.

Thankfully though, one of the big boys has no intentions of ditching physical copies anytime soon. Nintendo executive Bill van Zyll has revealed on a YouTube video (via Eurogamer) that Switch game cards are going nowhere.

Speaking to Coelho no Japão, the general manager for Nintendo in Latin America said that "there are no plans to ditch physical". He also added: "We know how much the fans like it as well, so our position has been to be agnostic."

Of course, Nintendo's boxed copies can also require digital versions to be downloaded, although there are also plenty of games out there for the Switch 2 and older Switch models that are contained on a single card.

It's also hardly likely to ditch the format with the Switch 2 having a game card slot. That's what van Zyll means by agnostic. The company doesn't mind which version of a game you buy, as long as you buy the game.

The future of physical games

Of course, Nintendo isn't the only firm to commit again to physical media. Blaze will soon introduce its Evercade Nexus handheld, which uses the brand's game cartridges – usually packed with retro classics.

The rise in retro gaming handhelds that enable the use of physical games is important too, such as the ModRetro Chromatic, which accepts Game Boy cartridges, and the soon-to-release (in the UK) Hyperkin SupaBoy. This latter device runs original Super Nintendo carts – both PAL and NTSC.

Still, the fact that Nintendo wants to continue to offer options is refreshing. Let's just hope Sony is listening.