Publisher Inin Games has announced a switch to physical cartridges for its upcoming Switch 2 title R-Type Dimensions III, responding to player complaints about Game-Key Cards. The decision follows community feedback, though details on enabling factors remain unconfirmed by Nintendo. Preorders will be honored at the original price despite a higher cost for the physical version.
Players have widely criticized Game-Key Cards for Nintendo Switch 2 games, which are physical items that require an internet download rather than containing the full game on a cartridge. In response, Inin Games revealed on December 19, 2025, that its US and European release of R-Type Dimensions III will now ship on a physical cartridge instead of a Game-Key Card.
Initially, Inin attributed the change to new smaller cartridge sizes introduced by Nintendo, such as rumored 16GB and 32GB options, which would make physical production more affordable compared to the previous standard 64GB cartridges. However, the publisher quickly retracted this claim, stating, “There has been no official announcement or confirmation from Nintendo concerning cartridge storage capacities. Any references to specific storage sizes should not be interpreted as official information from Nintendo.” Inin confirmed only that the game will use a physical cartridge, without further technical details.
Nintendo has not commented on the matter. Previously, developers were limited to 64GB cartridges, forcing larger titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles to use Game-Key Cards. Smaller games often followed suit due to the high cost of unused space on larger cartridges. Last month, Pokémon Pokopia was announced as Nintendo's first in-house title to release solely via Game-Key Card.
The physical version of R-Type Dimensions III will cost $10 more than the digital edition to cover production expenses, but Inin pledged to maintain the original preorder price. In a statement, the company said, “We'd like to sincerely thank the community for the passionate discussion, the feedback, and the patience over the past days. Your enthusiasm for physical games and for R-Type in particular made this solution possible, and we're very happy to be able to deliver a true cartridge release.” This move may encourage other publishers to prioritize full physical releases, though some could stick with Game-Key Cards for cost or performance benefits, such as faster loading from downloads.
