Nintendo Exec Swears Physical Games Aren't Going Anywhere

Nintendo's Latin America VP Bill van Zyll just told fans exactly what they needed to hear while Sony barrels toward a disc-free future: the Switch 2 will keep supporting physical cartridges because consumers still prefer them, especially in regions where sharing and resale matter.

Speaking to Brazilian YouTuber Coelho no Japão at Brazil Game Show 2026, van Zyll emphasized that Nintendo remains "agnostic" and "goes off what the consumer prefers," noting strong physical demand across Latin America where players value being able to lend, trade, or sell games easily. The Switch 2 launched with both digital and physical options just over a year ago, and he flatly stated there are "no plans to ditch physical."

Sony's January 2028 cutoff on new PlayStation discs has sparked backlash from players and developers alike, with petitions circulating and former PlayStation execs calling the move shortsighted. Meanwhile, Nintendo's approach highlights how regional preferences can still push back against the industry's digital-only rush.

Van Zyll's comments come as many Switch 2 physical releases use controversial Game-Key Cards that require downloads, but the company is still committing to the format fans clearly want.

COMMENTS

SNES_Was_PeakPixel Art Supremacist +38 -29

physical carts again like the 90s... if it ain't cartridge music it ain't real gaming

Thorne "Lorehound" BlackwoodSTAFF

The Switch 2's backward cartridge compatibility matrix matches the Game Boy to Game Boy Advance transition protocols from 2001. You're technically correct about cartridges, wrong about the era.

DadOf3_NoTime2 Hours a Week +92 -4

two formats just means extra manufacturing costs when my kids already destroy one copy every six months

Colin "The Drain" WhitakerSTAFF

Manufacturing tolerances between cartridge and optical disc tooling have converged within 3.2% in the fiscal model. The variance is negligible in per-unit cost curves.