Nintendo says it has no plans to ditch physical games for Switch and Switch 2. The comment came from Bill van Zyll, Vice President and General Manager of Nintendo Latin America, during an interview at Brazil Game Show (BGS) 2026, which ran from October 9 to 12, 2026.

Key points:

  • Bill van Zyll said Nintendo has "no plans to ditch physical" games.
  • He spoke in an interview with YouTuber Rodrigo Coelho at BGS 2026.
  • Nintendo describes itself as "agnostic" about distribution format and follows what consumers prefer.
  • Switch 2 supports both physical cartridges and digital releases.
  • Sony has announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation discs starting January 2028.

What Nintendo said about physical games at BGS 2026

According to Nintendo Life and Power Up Gaming, van Zyll was asked about the future of physical games while talking with YouTuber Rodrigo Coelho. His answer was short: "There's no plans to ditch physical. We know how much the fans like it."

He also said Nintendo is "agnostic" about distribution format, meaning the company does not push players in one direction and instead follows what consumers prefer. In practice, the message is that both formats have a place, and the choice belongs to the buyer.

As Nintendo Life notes, Switch 2 launched just over a year ago, on June 5, 2025, and supports both physical cartridges and digital releases. Physical games will keep being available on Switch 2 alongside digital releases on the Nintendo eShop.

Background: why physical still matters to Nintendo

Nintendo Life points out that physical game sales remain significant for Nintendo, particularly in Japan. Cartridges also offer storage benefits that disc-based systems do not.

Another detail is the Game Key Card, an alternative physical format that has emerged on Switch 2. According to Nintendo Life, some consumers debate whether Game Key Cards count as true physical media. The sources do not go into further detail on how the format works.

The comments land at a time when the wider industry is discussing a move toward digital-only. According to SoyaCincau and TechPowerUp, Sony announced in July 2026 that it will stop producing physical PlayStation discs starting January 2028. Nintendo Life describes Microsoft's stance on the format as unclear.

What it means for players

For Switch and Switch 2 owners, the near-term message is simple: you can still choose between physical and digital versions. No announcement so far suggests Nintendo will scale back physical releases.

According to Power Up Gaming, physical games give collectors several benefits: collectibility, ease of sharing with family and friends, and resale value. Those are areas where digital purchases are harder to match.

Nintendo Life says the company's commitment stands in contrast to Sony's January 2028 deadline and Microsoft's unclear position. For anyone who cares about long-term ownership, that may be a factor when choosing a platform.

It is worth separating "no plans" from a binding, time-limited promise. The sources give no timeframe for Nintendo's approach, and they say nothing about what share of releases will get a physical edition compared with digital.

What comes next

Nintendo has not announced any change to its release strategy. What exists is a statement from a regional executive in an interview, not a formal global policy announcement.

For players in Vietnam, details on distribution, pricing or availability of Nintendo physical games in the market have not been announced in the verified sources. We will update this story if that changes.

In the coming months, it will be worth watching how Nintendo and third-party publishers handle new Switch 2 releases, especially whether they ship on full cartridges or as Game Key Cards, since that is where players are debating the definition of physical.

FAQ

Will Switch 2 keep getting physical games?

Yes. According to Nintendo Life and Power Up Gaming, physical games will continue to be available on Switch 2 alongside digital releases on the Nintendo eShop.

Does Nintendo prefer physical over digital?

Not exactly. Nintendo Life reports that Nintendo is "agnostic" about distribution format and follows consumer preference. Van Zyll said the company knows how much fans like physical games.

What has Sony done about discs?

According to SoyaCincau and TechPowerUp, Sony announced in July 2026 that it will stop producing physical PlayStation discs starting January 2028.