Publisher Accidentally Confirms New Switch 2 Cartridge Sizes (And Then Panics)

Rumor Mill
Written By NLM Team

We love a good "oops" moment in the games industry, especially when it involves a publisher saying the quiet part out loud and then frantically hitting the delete button.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been sitting under our TVs since June, but apparently, Nintendo is still tweaking the manufacturing side of things behind closed doors. This week, publisher ININ Games accidentally corroborated a major rumor while promoting their upcoming release of R-Type Dimensions III. In a post that has since been nuked from orbit, they explicitly mentioned that Nintendo had "announced" two new smaller cartridge sizes for the console—something Nintendo hasn't actually told the public yet.

The Leak We Weren't Supposed To See

The slip-up happened when ININ was explaining their production changes for the physical edition of R-Type. In the now-deleted statement (captured by eagle-eyed users on X and Reddit), they said:

"There is no better timing: Two days ago Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2. This allows us to recalculate production in a way that wasn’t possible before."

This is huge news for physical collectors. While the console launched with standard cartridge sizes, it seems Nintendo is now introducing lower-capacity, cheaper game cards specifically for smaller indie titles. This means publishers don't have to pay for a massive capacity cart for a 2GB retro shooter, making physical runs much more viable in 2026.

The "Switch Tax" Is Still Alive

However, just because the carts are smaller doesn't mean they are cheap. ININ added a disclaimer that put a damper on the celebration.

Due to the still-high production costs of these proprietary Nintendo cartridges, the physical version of R-Type Dimensions III will cost €10 more than the digital version.

It is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is actually an improvement. Apparently, their initial projection using the old cartridge options would have forced a €15 markup. So, we are saving €5 thanks to these new mini-carts, but we are still paying the "Switch Tax" for the privilege of owning a box.

The Cleanup Operation

As expected, once the internet started noticing they were discussing confidential manufacturing specs, ININ Games deleted the social media posts and scrubbed the blog post. But the internet is written in ink, not pencil.

So, thanks to a slip of the tongue, we now know that Nintendo is actively trying to fix the production cost issues that have plagued the Switch 2's first six months. R-Type Dimensions III is set to launch by May 2026, hopefully with the cartridge drama sorted out by then.

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NLM Team
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