Score one for the rumor mill! It looks like the whispers about Nintendo introducing smaller Switch 2 cartridges were right on the money.

Update [Fri 19th Dec 2025, 9:15am]: The Rumor Becomes Reality

Earlier this week, chatter suggested Nintendo was working on new, smaller cartridge sizes for the Switch 2. The goal? To give publishers a more affordable option than the tough choice between pricey 64GB carts or Game-Key Cards. Now, we have our first official confirmation thanks to ININ Games.

Last time we reported, ININ had chosen a Game-Key Card for R-Type Dimensions III to avoid a significant cost hike. But in a new blog post, the studio reveals everything has changed:

“Two days ago Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2.”

Because of this, a full physical release is back on the menu.

“The entire European and US production of R-Type Dimensions III for Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on a full physical cartridge.”

There’s a small catch: retail and special edition prices will rise by 10€ to cover the “still higher production costs.” Good news for early birds, though—this bump won’t apply to those who already pre-ordered their special editions.

ININ ended their announcement with a shoutout to the community that made this possible:

“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…”

This is a huge win for physical collectors. While we wait to see how many other publishers adopt these new cart sizes, one thing’s clear: a cheaper alternative to Game-Key Cards is finally here.

Original Story [Below]: The Rumor That Started It All

Game-Key Cards have been a lightning rod for debate since the Switch 2 launched. The theory has been simple: without smaller, cheaper cartridges, many studios see GKCs as the only viable path to a physical release. That might be changing.

Rumors swirled this week claiming Nintendo would soon introduce 16GB and 32GB cartridge options. This would be a game-changer for smaller devs, offering a true physical alternative that doesn’t break the bank.

The buzz came from reputable sources in the preservation community, including Does It Play and Physical Paradise on Twitter, the latter citing two separate sources. Even deal-spotter @Nintendeal had heard similar, though they cautiously noted that more options don’t automatically mean lower prices, given material costs and chip shortages.

It’s worth remembering that not every GKC choice is about cost—some games, like Star Wars Outlaws, used them for performance reasons. Smaller carts won’t fix that, but they do offer a better solution for games less dependent on ultra-fast asset streaming.

Of course, this was just a rumor at the time… but a promising one.

The announcement from ININ about R-Type Dimensions III initially seemed to highlight the problem. They’d opted for a GKC because a cartridge would spike costs by at least 15€, but held out hope for a “real cartridge” solution.

Now, thanks to this new official option from Nintendo, that hope has become a reality for them—and potentially for countless future physical releases.

What do you think? Will this move from Nintendo finally stem the tide of Game-Key Cards, or will studios stick with the download-in-a-box model for other reasons? Sound off in the comments.