Nintendo Says It Has No Plans to Ditch Physical Games

“There are no plans to ditch physical [media]. We know how much the fans like it as well,” van Zyll said in the interview, TechRadar reported. He pointed to the Nintendo Switch 2, whose games are available in both digital and physical formats, as an example of Nintendo’s current approach. TechRadar said Nintendo appears committed to continuing that approach at least for the time being.

Nintendo fans on social media responded with hope. On Reddit, one user suggested there might be a window for cartridges to make a comeback in some capacity, according to TechRadar. Another wrote, “I have no plans to abandon Nintendo. The system works!” A third said, “I hope Sony takes notice,” referring to Sony’s decision to move away from physical games by 2028.

Van Zyll also left room for Nintendo’s strategy to change. “Historically, we’ve been very agnostic. We go off of what the consumer prefers and take that into account very heavily,” he said, according to TechRadar. That means physical releases remain part of Nintendo’s plans now, but the company has not ruled out a shift if consumer tastes move elsewhere.

The broader industry has been moving toward digital distribution. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has previously said, “Our business is well over 90% digitally distributed,” which TechRadar noted explains why GTA 6 will launch without discs. TechRadar added that while Grand Theft Auto players and Nintendo fans are different groups, Nintendo could eventually follow Take-Two’s example.

For collectors who prefer hard copies, Nintendo’s statement is good news, TechRadar said. But with the industry increasingly heading digital, TechRadar advised that players may want to pick up physical copies of their favorites in case Nintendo decides to change course.