Nintendo Switch 2 supports both regular game cards and game-key cards. Some games will use game-key cards while others will continue using regular game cards.
Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your "key" to downloading the full game to your system via the internet.
After it’s downloaded, you can play the game by inserting the game-key card into your system and starting it up like a standard physical game card.
Here's what game-key card packaging looks like.
❗ To download the game, an internet connection and enough free space in your Nintendo Switch 2 system memory or microSD Express card are required.
How it works
Step 1: Insert the game-key card into the system.
Step 2: Download the game.
The game itself isn't included on the game-key card, so you’ll have to download it before you can play.
When you insert the game-key card, further instructions will be displayed on the HOME Menu. Please follow the instructions to download the game.
Please note: to download the game, you must have enough free space in your Nintendo Switch 2 system memory or microSD Express card. The amount of free space required is indicated on the game-key card packaging.
Step 3: Play the game.
Once the game is downloaded, you’re ready to play!
An internet connection is only required when you launch the game for the first time. After this, the game can be started even without an internet connection. However, like regular physical software, the game-key card must be inserted into the system in order to play the game.