Switch 2 Cartridges Too Slow for Star Wars Outlaws

Nintendo’s Switch 2 has only been with us a few months, and one of its biggest controversies has already resurfaced: Game Key Cards. Ubisoft has now confirmed that Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 had to use them, not because of cost savings, but because the console’s cartridges just couldn’t keep up.

Why Ubisoft Ditched Cartridges

Rob Bantin, audio architect for Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine, explained the decision to Digital Foundry’s John Linneman on BlueSky. The game’s open world relies on constant streaming of assets, and the Switch 2’s physical media just isn’t fast enough.

• Cartridges max out at around 400MB/s transfer speeds.
• The Switch 2’s internal SSD can reach close to 900MB/s.
• That gap is the dealbreaker for a game designed first for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

What makes this stand out is that Outlaws itself is only 20.2GB—tiny compared to most modern releases. Clearly, size isn’t the issue, speed is.

The Bigger Problem with Game Key Cards

Game Key Cards don’t contain the game itself. They’re essentially physical keys that let you download the title, and the card has to stay in your Switch 2 to play. Preservation enthusiasts have been rightly critical of this approach—if servers go offline in the future, what happens to your purchase?

Until now, most assumed this was Nintendo cutting back on manufacturing costs. Ubisoft’s explanation suggests something more concerning: a genuine technical limitation. If more developers hit the same wall, cartridges may become reserved for smaller, less demanding titles.

Performance on Switch 2

The positive note though is that once downloaded, Star Wars Outlaws performs surprisingly well on the handheld hybrid. Reports show a steady 30fps, and the Switch 2 port arrived with all DLC included exactly one year after the original release.

What This Means Going Forward

This feels like a bit of a shift for Nintendo’s hybrid model. Cartridges have always been part of the Switch identity, but if they’re now a bottleneck for AAA games, the industry may need to adapt. Possible outcomes could include:

• More AAA publishers opting for Game Key Cards.
• Physical editions becoming tokens rather than true game media.
• Cartridges finding a new home as a niche for indie and mid-size titles.

The worry though is around Nintendo’s loyal collectors. Part of the Switch’s charm has been the joy of physical ownership, something that Game Key Cards fundamentally undermine. If that’s eroded, Nintendo risks losing some of its most dedicated fans.