Companies Shouldn’t Underestimate Physical Releases on Nintendo Consoles – CD Projekt RED

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Despite facing criticism over its new Game-Key Card system for selling physical versions of what would typically be digital games, Nintendo’s audience seems to value buying full games through traditional media, according to CD Projekt RED business development VP Jan Rosner. In an interview with The Game Business, Rosner discussed the upcoming release of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition as a launch title for the Switch 2, emphasizing its importance for Nintendo fans.

Based on Rosner’s account, working with Nintendo to launch The Witcher 3 on the initial Switch offered valuable insights to CD Projekt RED. One of these lessons was that, for an audience predominantly using the Switch as their main gaming device, having a game available in physical copies holds significant value.

Rosner clarified that publishers selling their games through Game-Key Cards disguised as physical releases isn’t about avoiding consequences. He emphasized that Nintendo remains powerful in the physical retail market, and traditional retail is here to stay. He doesn’t foresee a future where we exclusively have digital games without any physical counterparts.

However, it’s particularly crucial for Nintendo users. While we might have managed to pull it off, is it really necessary? The ideal approach would be to include it on the cartridge for a hassle-free, plug-and-play experience.

In conclusion, Rosner emphasizes that other studios shouldn’t overlook the importance of physical copies, as Nintendo players have a strong preference for this format. He explains, “Physical editions aren’t vanishing anytime soon, and Nintendo fans highly value well-executed physical releases.

Regarding the possibility of porting “Cyberpunk 2077” to the Nintendo Switch 2, Rosner addressed whether there would be a demand for this game on Nintendo’s system. Previously, CD Projekt RED found that it could broaden its player base by bringing more of their games to platforms like the Switch, as demonstrated with “The Witcher 3”. However, questions were raised about the feasibility of running “Cyberpunk 2077” on the Switch 2 due to potential performance issues.

Rosner stated, regarding the technical limitations of the forthcoming Nintendo console, ‘We were definitely taking a close look at it.’ He emphasized that they aimed to ensure the game ran smoothly. If the Switch 2 was incapable of handling such a large-scale game, it would have been noticeable right away.

He pointed out that people often consider if a game will be compared or expected to perform like a PC, but with The Witcher 3, players generally understand the performance limitations of the platform and don’t necessarily expect an experience equivalent to high-end platforms. It’s a large AAA RPG designed for mobile devices, and the team ensures that it can be played from start to finish without significant compromises, which they believe they have achieved.

The “Ultimate Edition” of Cyberpunk 2077 will debut as a launch game on the Nintendo Switch, making its appearance in stores on June 5th.

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2025-05-07 16:42