Looking at the listings on Target and GameStop, I’ve noticed that many publishers decided to use the game-key card format. This is allegedly because Nintendo is only offering third-party developers the 64GB cartridge or the game-key card—there is no smaller, standard physical cart. This would explain why nearly every major (and minor) AAA release is on a game-key card, since publishers don’t want to pay extra for the more expensive storage space.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD, Hitman: World of Assassination, Hogwarts Legacy, Madden NFL 26, Raidou Remastered, Sonic X Shadow Generations, Split Fiction, Star Wars Outlaws, Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition, and Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut will all require an internet connection to download before playing. Civilization VII will actually just be a code in a box. I can image there will be more (of both) in the future; the Switch 2 only just launched."
"Which Games Are Game-Key Cards?
Looking at the listings on Target and GameStop, I’ve noticed that many publishers decided to use the game-key card format. This is allegedly because Nintendo is only offering third-party developers the 64GB cartridge or the game-key card—there is no smaller, standard physical cart. This would explain why nearly every major (and minor) AAA release is on a game-key card, since publishers don’t want to pay extra for the more expensive storage space.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD, Hitman: World of Assassination, Hogwarts Legacy, Madden NFL 26, Raidou Remastered, Sonic X Shadow Generations, Split Fiction, Star Wars Outlaws, Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition, and Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut will all require an internet connection to download before playing. Civilization VII will actually just be a code in a box. I can image there will be more (of both) in the future; the Switch 2 only just launched."
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference