Lead: On Friday, retro publisher ININ Games briefly posted that Nintendo had announced two new, smaller cartridge sizes for the Switch 2, then removed that claim and issued a correction. The publisher said the change allowed it to revise production plans for a physical Switch 2 release of R-Type Dimensions III and that the boxed edition will cost €10 more. Nintendo has not confirmed any new cartridge capacities. The episode highlights long-standing tensions over cartridge costs and how storage choices affect third-party releases.
Key takeaways
- ININ Games initially said Nintendo announced two smaller Switch 2 cartridge sizes; it later removed that line and corrected the claim.
- ININ still plans a physical Switch 2 version of R-Type Dimensions III but will add €10 to the retail price for the boxed edition.
- Nintendo did not respond to requests for confirmation; no official announcement of new cartridge capacities has been published.
- Public reporting and industry sources cite a 64GB Switch cartridge as a known option and widespread use of lower-cost game-key cards.
- A YouTube channel (Physical Paradise) and other reporting place the per-unit cost of physical cartridges at about $16, a figure industry analysts say is a major factor in release format choices.
- Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad and NYU professor Joost van Dreunen point to cost and memory-price trends as likely drivers of any change in cartridge offerings.
- Manufacturing economics, not technical impossibility, is the primary barrier keeping some developers from shipping full games on Switch-family cartridges.
Background
Physical Switch releases have long been a contested issue between Nintendo, developers and publishers. Developers can distribute games either as full cartridge releases or using cheaper “game-key” cards that contain only a product key; the actual game file is downloaded by players. For studios with tight margins, the per-unit cost of flash cartridges can make full-cart releases uneconomic, especially for smaller print runs or large games.
Historically, reported public options for developers have been limited. Reporting earlier this year referenced a 64GB cartridge option and the alternative of game-key cards; specifics about intermediary capacities for a hypothetical Switch 2 have not been publicly confirmed by Nintendo. Independent channels and industry observers have repeatedly pointed to cartridge manufacturing cost as the decisive factor in format choice.
Main event
On Friday, ININ Games published an update saying it had “recalculated production” and could offer a physical Switch 2 version of R-Type Dimensions III because, it claimed, “Two days ago Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2.” Within hours, ININ removed that reference and posted a correction clarifying there was no official confirmation from Nintendo on cartridge storage capacities.
The corrected post reaffirmed that the physical Switch 2 edition remains planned, but that ININ will tack on €10 to the retail price to cover costs. Nintendo did not immediately reply to a request for comment, and no public Nintendo announcement matching ININ’s initial claim appeared during the day.
Outside reporting fed the context for ININ’s original statement. In May, reporting from a Brazilian games journalist—based on alleged Arc System Works leaks—suggested developers saw a 64GB cartridge option and game-key cards as the typical paths. The YouTube channel Physical Paradise has also cited per-unit cartridge costs of roughly $16, which industry sources view as significant for publishers deciding whether to produce full carts.
Analysis & implications
If Nintendo were to introduce additional cartridge capacities, the primary effect would be economic rather than technical: more capacity options could lower the marginal cost for some products or allow publishers to choose mid-tier sizes rather than paying for the highest-capacity media. For smaller or midline third-party releases, this could make a full cartridge more appealing if per-unit pricing becomes more closely aligned with expected retail margins.
However, the mechanics of flash memory pricing complicate timing and incentives. Memory cost swings can make manufacturers and console holders cautious about committing to a broad new set of SKUs. NYU’s Joost van Dreunen suggested the move could be preemptive—anticipating rising memory prices so Nintendo can price and allocate capacities before costs climb.
From a developer perspective, risk-management remains central. Producing cartridges requires forecasting print runs; misjudging demand leaves publishers absorbing unsold inventory. The reported additional €10 on ININ’s boxed price shows one immediate commercial response: pass some of the extra production cost onto customers for a guaranteed physical edition.
Comparison & data
| Item | Known / Reported detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 64GB cartridge | Previously reported as a developer option | Reported in May via secondary reporting; treated as industry-known but not newly announced by Nintendo |
| Game-key card | Contains download key, not full game | Lower per-unit manufacturing cost; used to reduce publisher outlay |
| New smaller sizes | Claimed by ININ, later retracted | Unconfirmed officially; could change publisher economics if real |
| Per-unit cartridge cost | Reported ~ $16 per cart | Figure comes from industry-channel reporting and is treated as approximate |
The table summarizes what is publicly reported and what remains uncertain. These numbers underscore why publishers weigh card vs. full-cart models: a several-dollar difference per unit multiplies quickly across print runs and affects retail pricing decisions such as ININ’s €10 surcharge.
Reactions & quotes
ININ’s public correction clarified the publisher’s source of error and framed the cartridge-size claim as unconfirmed.
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.
ININ Games (publisher correction)
Industry analysts echoed the view that cost drives format choices rather than technical limits.
Cost was always the primary factor between key cards vs full cart releases.
Daniel Ahmad (Niko Partners analyst)
An academic perspective highlighted memory-price dynamics as a possible motive behind any preemptive SKU strategy.
This is in anticipation of memory going up in cost soon, allowing Nintendo to charge a more reasonable price especially for third-party games.
Joost van Dreunen (NYU games professor)
Unconfirmed
- That Nintendo formally announced two new smaller Switch 2 cartridge sizes—ININ’s initial claim was retracted and no Nintendo announcement was published.
- The exact per-unit manufacturing cost of Switch 2 cartridges—reports put it at about $16, but that number is approximate and may vary by capacity and order size.
- Whether lower-capacity cartridge SKUs would be made generally available to developers or limited by commercial terms.
- Whether ININ’s stated €10 retail surcharge precisely reflects the actual per-unit cost difference for that specific print run.
Bottom line
The ININ incident underscores how a single unverified claim can reverberate across developer communities and consumer-facing expectations. Publishers are acutely sensitive to cartridge economics; if Nintendo were to expand capacity options, the chief effect would likely be on publishers’ cost calculus rather than on console capability.
For now, the factual record is narrow: ININ briefly cited new cartridge sizes, corrected the claim, and still plans a physical Switch 2 release with a €10 price premium. Observers and analysts point to manufacturing costs and memory-price trends as the true levers shaping whether games ship on full cartridges or via key cards.