While Sony is slowly burying the disc, Nintendo is giving the all-clear for everyone who likes to have their games on a shelf: The company currently has no plans to abandon physical media.
What Did Nintendo Say About Physical Games?
Bill van Zyll, Vice President and General Manager of Nintendo Latin America, said in an interview with the YouTube channel Coelho no Japão: "There are no plans to abandon physical media." Nintendo is historically "agnostic" and adapts to what customers prefer. The Switch 2 has only been on the market for just over a year and offers both – digital and physical. "We know how much fans like it," van Zyll stated.
Why Is This Statement Important Right Now?
The timing is no coincidence. Sony has confirmed it will cease production of PlayStation discs in early 2028, and it's expected that Microsoft will follow suit. We have already reported on the consequences for retailers, regarding Marvel’s Wolverine and the share of sales accounted for by discs.
Does This Mean Nintendo Will Stick with Cartridges Forever?
No, and that's the important caveat. The statement applies for the moment. Nintendo Life itself points out that the situation could change in a few years. For Sony, for example, the PS5 is almost six years old, with the transition to the PS6 expected in the next one to two years – so discontinuing discs is easier to justify. For the still-young Switch 2, however, a signal towards digital-only would be nonsensical.
From our perspective, this is a reassuring, but not a definitive answer. Those who value collector's items or games for resale can breathe a sigh of relief for now regarding the Switch 2. What it looks like for the next console generation remains open – ultimately, that depends on sales figures.
Source: Nintendo Life
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