According to Nintendo's Vice President for Latin America, the company has no intentions of abandoning physical game formats

Nintendo remains committed to providing both digital and physical game options. As detailed by Eurogamer, Bill van Zyll, Nintendo Latin America's vice president and general manager, reiterated to YouTuber Coelho no Japão that the company's strategy aligns with customer preferences, with a significant focus on continuing physical game availability. "Historically, the company has been consumer-driven in its approach," he remarked, emphasizing that Nintendo listens closely to its audience's desires.

Commenting on the future of the Nintendo Switch 2, introduced in June 2025, van Zyll mentioned that it features support for both formats: digital downloads and physical cartridges. "We have no intention of abandoning physical editions," he assured, highlighting Nintendo's commitment to consumer choice.

Switch 2 users can acquire games digitally via the Nintendo eShop or buy cartridge versions. Some of these cartridges contain the entire game, while others, labeled as Game-Key Cards, simply grant access to the digital game.

Game-Key Cards have sparked some controversy, as noted by Eurogamer, when consumers realized certain physical editions only included a digital download code. This approach has not been universally well-received.

Nintendo's stance contrasts with Sony's recent decision to halt physical disc production for new PlayStation titles beginning January 2028, as announced on the official PlayStation Blog. Sony attributed this shift to the increasing trend of digital purchases among their customer base.