Nintendo Switch 2 game

Nintendo has shined a light on an important detail about the Nintendo Switch 2. The company is introducing Game-Key Cards — physical cards that don’t contain game data but instead trigger a digital download when inserted into the console.

SEE ALSO: How much will Nintendo Switch 2 games cost? Here's what we've learned so far.

Nintendo said the cards won’t be locked to user accounts.

In a conversation with GameSpot, Nintendo executive Tetsuya Sasaki clarified that Game-Key Cards “will start up on the console or system that it is slotted into, so it’s not tied to an account or anything.”

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That means if you sell or trade the card, the next person should still be able to use it — as long as they’ve got a Switch 2. But there are still caveats. Nintendo’s own support page notes that the card must remain inserted in order to play the game, effectively turning it into a physical DRM key. Think of it like PlayStation Plus: you can install the game, but access is dependent on a condition — in this case, having the card physically present.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorders delayed in the U.S. due to tariffs

While the lack of account locking is a win for secondhand buyers, it’s also a reminder that even physical games are becoming increasingly digital and disposable.