Publisher claims Nintendo is now offering smaller card sizes for Switch 2, which could mean less game-key cards [update: retraction]

Original: One Nintendo Switch 2 publisher has stepped forward, claiming that smaller card sizes are now possible with games released on the system.

Since launch, we’ve heard that companies looking to release titles for the console have only been able to put everything on a 64GB cartridge. In most cases, publishers weren’t interested in that option. Because of that, game-key cards have flooded Nintendo Switch 2 since June, and that’s something collectors haven’t been happy about. Even though you technically get something physically, you still have to download the entire game.

That brings us to today’s update. According to ININ Games, earlier this week, “Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2.” This isn’t something the company hasn’t said publicly, but it’s apparently sharing that information with companies behind the scenes. It’s unclear what the new sizes are, but 32GB and 16GB could be possibilities.

We’re already seeing an immediate benefit to the change. Originally, ININ Games was planning a game-key card for R-Type Dimensions 3. However, that’s now changing. ININ said: “The entire European and US production of R-Type Dimensions 3 for Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on a full physical cartridge.”

We could very well see more proper physical releases on Nintendo Switch 2 going forward. ININ noted that the change in card sizes “allows us to recalculate production in a way that wasn’t possible before” and other publishers could follow suit.

Update: ININ has now posted a retraction, which you can find below. It’s possible the publisher shared information it was not supposed to (especially as there were rumblings earlier in the week regarding new cartridge sizes), but in any case, we can no longer rely on the original statement. 

We would like to issue a correction regarding statements made earlier today in relation to Nintendo cartridge storage sizes.

There has been no official announcement or confirmation from Nintendo concerning cartridge storage capacities. Any references to specific storage sizes should not be interpreted as official information from Nintendo.

At this time, we can only confirm that our upcoming release R-Type Dimensions 3 will be on a physical cartridge. No further technical details regarding cartridge specifications have been officially confirmed.

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and appreciate your understanding.