Switch 2 Cartridge Shake-Up: Publisher Confirms Smaller Game Cards

A small change has caused a big reaction about Nintendo's next game system. A publisher behind R-Type Dimensions III told sources that there are two new Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges with smaller capacities. This confirmed months of rumors about “game key cards” and the rising costs of physical media.

The confirmation was posted to the public in an unedited form but was later changed and partly deleted, which suggests that the info was shared earlier than the poster meant for it to be. Still, the moment showed Nintendo's latest plan to deal with bigger files and more expensive production: they're making more cartridges.

The problem comes from how quickly games are getting bigger on the Switch 2. While earlier Nintendo games were known for small files, newer games are said to go well beyond what was normal, with some over 40 GB. Sources say that normal 64 GB cartridges are getting more expensive because the cost of materials for NAND flash, solid-state storage, and memory components is going up.

Nintendo has said that smaller Switch 2 game cards are being made, but because of chip problems and supply issues, they won't be available everywhere right away.

This is the point at which R-Type Dimensions III becomes important. The game is coming out in May 2026 and is said to be about 10 GB, so a smaller disk instead of an expensive 64 GB card would be perfect. Sources say that the distributor first wanted to use a game key card for the Switch 2 version. This would mean that even people who own a physical copy of the game would have to download most of it.

But the way fans reacted to that method, especially for premium and collector's versions, made them think about it again. The publisher's now-edited public statement said that Nintendo made two new, smaller cartridge sizes for the Switch 2. This meant that the plans for how to make the cartridges had to be rethought. Because of this, R-Type Dimensions III's full release in Europe and the US on Switch 2 will be shipped on a real cartridge instead of a game key card.

Even though the exact sizes weren't officially named, the move highly suggests that options below 64 GB are available. Many people think that these include mid-range choices that would work for smaller games and medium-sized games. The proof didn't stay public for long.

The original message about "two new smaller cartridge sizes" was changed or taken down not long after it went online. This has led to the theory that Nintendo limited the information that was released before their own announcements. Even with the changes, the result is the same: R-Type Dimensions III will come out on a full cartridge. This means it's the first Switch 2 game that will definitely benefit from these new choices.

But there are costs that come with this change. Even with tiny cartridges, it is still expensive to make the product. Sources say that the usual physical release of R-Type Dimensions III on Switch 2 will cost $70, while the same game on PlayStation 5 costs only $60 there. The game on PS5 also ships on Blu-ray.

The collector's editions for both systems cost about the same, which suggests that the cartridge cost is most strongly felt at lower prices. This difference in price shows how hard it still is for companies to find a balance between keeping physical copies and the costs of making them.

Game keys are still the cheapest choice for publishers, especially for very small games, but adding more cartridge sizes gives publishers a middle ground.

According to the sources, these new choices might help more producers stay away from physical releases that can only be downloaded, especially as long as cartridge prices are somewhat reasonable.

At the same time, it's not clear how long these fixes will last. The costs for memory and storage are always changing. It has been suggested that even smaller packs could see a big increase in price over the next one to two years. Nintendo seems to be trying to adapt by giving people more options, but it's not clear if this will work for the whole generation.

At this point in time, R-Type Dimensions III is a real-world test case. It shows that full physical versions of Switch 2 are still possible without needing cartridges that are too big, but it also shows that players might have to pay more for that guarantee. As more games for Switch 2 are announced, people will start to wonder if other companies will follow suit or instead focus on game key cards.

With physical ownership, price, and preservation all coming together at once, the big question is whether players will pay more to keep the whole game on the cartridge. Or is the industry quietly getting ready for a digital-first future on Nintendo's next console?