If you're wondering why physical editions of Nintendo Switch games like Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm and Wolfenstein Youngblood are essentially a download code in a box, it's because Nintendo is prioritising which publishers and developers get access to Nintendo Switch cartridges that are still in notoriously short supply. Several sources familiar with the situation speaking to Gadgets 360 have confirmed that the wait for access to Nintendo Switch cartridges is notoriously long too, making codes in boxes a reality for those game companies not willing to wait.
"Even right now, Nintendo Switch[1] cartridges cost seven times more than a Blu-ray for PS4 or Xbox One," a production manager at a games company said on condition of anonymity. "It's tough to justify supporting the platform from a business side, but due to the demand for Switch games, publishers have no choice but to do something at retail. Hence code in box."
"At the moment, there's been a four to eight week wait for getting your game onto a Switch cart," said a sales executive at a major publisher. "And in a month like this with two Final Fantasy games and Mortal Kombat 11, it's obvious that Nintendo would play favourites, making it harder for smaller studios."
All of this results in a situation that's gone from bad to worse. In 2017 we saw LA Noire[2] and Doom[3] have graced the console but not without a 14GB and 9GB download to experience all they have to offer. This is because neither game in its entirety can fit on a single Switch game cartridge. Others, like WWE 2K18[4] require a colossal 24GB download even if you own it on cartridge.
"If a publisher wants to put a game on a 32GB cart...