CD Projekt Red Defends Physical Cartridges
As many third-party studios shift to Nintendo’s new game-key card format for the upcoming Switch 2, CD Projekt Red is going against the trend—delivering Cyberpunk 2077 on a full, physical game cartridge.
Speaking to The Game Business, CDPR’s business VP Jan Rosner explained that cutting corners wasn’t an option. “It’s not about what we could get away with. Nintendo players value a real, plug-and-play experience. The right thing to do was release it on cartridge.”
Game-key cards, which often lack game data and rely on large downloads, are drawing criticism from across the industry. Retro developers, preservationists, and former AAA leads like Alex Hutchinson have called the move “disheartening” and a blow to gaming’s cultural legacy.
Fans are also urging Nintendo to stick with full memory cartridges—not just for convenience, but for game sharing, collecting, and preserving the unique gaming culture tied to Nintendo’s past.
CDPR’s stance is backed by data. While digital sales are on the rise, 65% of third-party Switch games in Europe were still sold physically in 2024, showing that the demand is very real.
“Don’t underestimate the physical edition,” Rosner warned. With studios like CDPR taking a stand, fans can hope Nintendo listens. And thanks to CD Projekt Red’s vocal stance, that conversation is not going away anytime soon.
