Nintendo says physical games are staying, with no all-digital move planned
Nintendo has no plans to ditch physical games.
Bill van Zyll, vice president and general manager for Nintendo in Latin America, gave the position in an interview with YouTuber Coelho no Japão. He said the company has no immediate plans to move to an all-digital future.
An all-digital future means games sold only as downloads, with no cartridges or boxes on shop shelves. Van Zyll said Nintendo is not heading that way. His wording was direct. Physical releases stay. Eurogamer
He described Nintendo's approach as agnostic. That is a neutral stance between two formats. Physical games and digital downloads both continue, and consumer preference decides the mix.
The preference point matters because the two formats work differently for players. A physical Switch game is a small cartridge in a box. You can lend it, resell it or line it up on a shelf. A digital game is downloaded to the console and tied to an account, with no cartridge to pass on.
Van Zyll added that Nintendo knows how much fans like physical games. That affection is easy to recognise. Collectors keep boxed rows intact. Families share cartridges between siblings and friends. Second-hand buyers look for a lower price on the shelf.
The remark was reported on 11 October 2026. It matches the tone of the wider interview, which framed physical media as a live choice rather than a leftover habit. Nintendo Everything
He gave the same assurance for the company's newest hardware. Nintendo has no plans to ditch physical games for the Nintendo Switch 2.
That aligns with how the Switch 2 handles older software. The new console plays compatible physical and digital games released for the original Nintendo Switch system, according to Nintendo. Players do not face a split where only one format carries across. Nintendo
For shoppers, the practical point is simple. Choice remains on the table. A buyer can pick the boxed copy or the download and still play on current hardware.
No end date was attached to the position. Van Zyll spoke about current and immediate plans. That leaves future hardware decisions open, as with any production plan.
