May the Force Be With You in Star Wars Outlaws
The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 introduces a new way to experience physical games with its “Game-Key Cards.” Unlike traditional physical cartridges, these cards act as a ‘key’ to download the full game onto your system via the internet. Nintendo describes these cards as a distinct innovation, allowing players to access content without relying on large physical storage. As the Switch 2 launch approaches, more developers confirm the titles they’ll release on these game-key cards. Ubisoft is one of the latest, announcing that Star Wars Outlaws will be available in this format. New retailer listings show that the game will require a full digital download to access, as indicated on the box.
Ubisoft’s decision follows practices from the Switch generation. For example, physical editions of Assassin’s Creed games on the original Switch also required digital downloads. Given this history, the announcement of Star Wars Outlaws on a game-key card isn’t surprising.
However, not all developers are following this trend. CD Projekt Red, for instance, plans to release Cyberpunk 2077 entirely on a 64GB physical cartridge, eliminating the need for digital downloads. This showcases the different strategies developers are using to adapt to the Switch 2’s new game delivery system.