Overwatch Switch Physical Copy Doesn't Come With Cartridge

For those who are planning to buy Overwatch for Nintendo Switch, you might want to consider grabbing the copy from the Nintendo eShop instead of doing so from the usual brick-and-mortar retailer. That is because the physical version of the game for the hybrid console will not arrive with a physical cartridge.

Yes, that is right – Overwatch for the Switch will only be available as a download code. For some players, this might not be acceptable, especially for those who have been collecting game cartridges for the hybrid console. However, it actually makes a lot of sense for Blizzard.

For starters, the first-person shooter title is an online-only multiplayer game. And ever since launch, the studio has been consistent in updating it over the past few years. In fact, the game’s PS4 version is reportedly pushing at 30 GB as of this writing. So, if a physical cartridge is present, it would be little more than a digital key to the game that regularly receives new content.

Still, it does seem a bit odd that the studio decided to ship a plastic case to stores when it only includes a digital code printed in it. And yes, this is despite the fact that the game is a marquee Switch release that, to some, must have a physical presence in stores.

If you are planning to purchase Overwatch physically for the sake of owning a game card that you can use in a number of Switch consoles, then you might want to think otherwise. The public service announcement from Blizzard should serve as a warning. It even says so right there on the box (“Game card not included!”), so make sure you plan your purchase accordingly.

In any case, the highly anticipated Overwatch for Switch launches today, October 15th. And since you will be obtaining the game’s digital version no matter how you plan to buy it, it might be easier to just stay at home and download the digital copy directly from the Switch eShop.