Nintendo has no plans to abandon physical games, executive says

Nintendo has no plans to stop releasing games in physical formats, despite the industry's continued shift toward digital distribution. Bill van Zyll, Nintendo's vice president and general manager for Latin America, said the company considers consumer preferences when deciding how to distribute its games and recognizes how much fans value physical copies.

Speaking to the Brazilian YouTube channel Coelho no Japão at Brasil Game Show 2026, van Zyll said the Nintendo Switch 2 supports both digital and physical games, and the company has no plans to abandon physical media. He added that Nintendo remains flexible about distribution formats and takes players' preferences into account. The company's current position is to support both formats rather than favor one over the other.

Historically, we’ve been very agnostic. We go off what the consumer prefers and take that into account very heavily. So, there are no plans to ditch physical [formats]. We know how much the fans like it as well. - Bill van Zyll.

The executive also noted that physical games are particularly popular in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America. Players value physical copies because they can collect them, share them with others and resell them later. Although the balance between physical and digital sales varies by game and availability, van Zyll said the preference for physical releases is stronger in Latin America than in many other markets.

Nintendo's stance comes as Sony prepares to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. The announcement, made in July, sparked widespread backlash from players concerned about game ownership, resale rights and long-term access to their purchases. Sony says the move reflects the industry's shift toward digital distribution, but the reaction highlights why Nintendo's continued support for physical releases may matter to collectors and other fans.

Nintendo’s statement does not guarantee that physical games will be available indefinitely, but it confirms that the company has no current plans to discontinue them.

Andrew Sozinow - Tech Writer - 145 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024

I’ve been fascinated by computers, electronics and modern technology since childhood. I started writing IT-news at high school and have been doing it continuously for more than 10 years. During this time, I have worked for many media outlets, and now I am a news editor at 3DNews. Sometimes I also write smartphone reviews. In July 2024, I decided to try my hand at writing news on Notebookcheck. When I'm not working, I like to play videogames, do puzzles, and travel.