Topic: What could Game Cards look like?

As we’re getting closer to a Switch 2 reveal, there’s still something that hasn’t been disclosed yet: Switch 2 Game Cards.

We know they might use code BEE-006 (BEE- which is something Switch 2 might use), but I don’t think there’s much more on what they’ll look like. There could be many ways they are handled, especially so they don’t play on an original Switch unless it’s a cross-gen title:

1. They are similar to Switch cartridges but have a notch on the side (akin to 3DS cartridges)
2. Switch 2 cartridges use the same shape and design as Switch cartridges but have different pins which can also help the cartridge slot detect if it’s a Switch 2 or Switch game. With this method, inserting into an original Switch will give a message saying that the game cannot be played on Nintendo Switch

Regardless of which one they use, there’s also the question of whether or not Switch 2 cartridges will have more storage than Switch cartridges (which have 32 GB), somewhere at 64 GB.

Well if the Switch 2 is going to be backwards compatible I would imagine they won't look too much different since the cartridge slot would have to be able to fit the original Switch gLite.

Then again they could just have two different slots like the original DS and DS lite. So the cartridges could look alot different then the Switch.

@Tasuki Unlikely Nintendo is gonna do 2 separate slots again.

I think this one comes down to what they would change for Switch 2, whether it’s an added notch or different pins.

And then how they’ll do it for cross-gen games so they don’t have to do separate cartridges for the Switch 1 and Switch 2

It'll PROBABLY be a similar case with the 3DS. I doubt they wanna use up space for a cart slot for Switch games. Mind you, "probably". I'd rather do a "wait-&-see" rather than come to conclusions but it seems the most likely scenario...

The game cards will look like game cards. Its purpose will be to have software on it to play on its hardware.

@1UP_MARIO I think it’s more on how they will be different from original Switch cartridges so they don’t get inserted or play on an original Switch.

Definitely will not shaped like triangle tortilla chip. 😂

@MrCarlos46 they will have a label on the cart that differentiate generation and will use a different signature. Putting a Wii u game in a wii doesn’t work.

@1UP_MARIO I think it also refers to if they will add a notch on the side or give Switch 2 cartridges different pins

They won't be too dissimilar.

In classic Nintendo fashion, an extra notch of plastic so a Switch 2 cartridge can't be inserted into an OG Switch, but will allow an OG Switch cartridge to be inserted into a Switch 2.

@Magician It’s also possible they might just give Switch 2 cartridges different pins so the original Switch doesn’t recognize them if one gets inserted.

I don't think they need to change. It's entirely possible to get more storage and support faster transfer rates without a different pinout or physical shape. Just look at what's been done with SD cards over the years.

Also, Nintendo will finally have the luxury of being able to give the older machine an OTA update so it can give a sensible message when you put a new cartridge in, so won't have to rely on them being a different physical shape, or anything like that.

Maybe they'll make them a different color though. Bright red would be easier to find if you dropped one, for instance.

Could white and dark blue be candidates too?

I can see them being a different color like the Gameboy and Gameboy Color games. Especially if they look the same because that would just be a PR nightmare when parents who don't know better buy a Switch 2 game when a child owns a Switch.

I'd hope that the situation is similar to what currently happens with an Xbox or PlayStation where, if you put a new gen disc into an old console, or vice versa, it offers to download a compatible version of the game. Sometimes you'll get both versions on the same disc, so the amount of downloading is minimal.

Obviously, that's not going to work for Switch 2 exclusives, but I'd expect those to be in the minority, at least to start with.

I'm expecting them to pull a 3DS and just make it to where the Switch 2 games have the little nub at the side of the cartridge that makes it impossible to put them into the original switch.

Could this also work for if they do cross-gen games?

@MrCarlos46 They could have a third color for cross generation cartridges, as previously happened in the GBC era, but I don't think they'd need one. Also, things could get complicated with games that get released without Switch 2 enhancements but later have them patched in.

@Matt_Barber Possibly for games like Pokémon Legends A-Z and Metroid Prime 4?