Nintendo executive confirms company has “no plans to ditch physical games”

Nintendo has reaffirmed its commitment to physical games amid industry debates about the future of game media. Bill van Zyll, vice president and general manager of Nintendo Latin America, confirmed in a recent interview with YouTuber Coelho no Japão that the company has “no plans to ditch physical” releases.

Van Zyll emphasized that Nintendo’s approach is guided by consumer preferences rather than industry trends. “Historically, we’ve been very agnostic,” he said. “We go off what the consumer prefers, and take that into account very heavily.”

The statement comes as Sony’s controversial announcement to eliminate PlayStation disc production by January 2028 has intensified discussions about physical versus digital game distribution. Unlike Sony’s decisive pivot toward an all-digital future, Nintendo is maintaining support for both formats.

The Nintendo Switch 2, which launched in June 2025 and is barely over a year into its lifecycle, exemplifies this dual-format approach by offering both digital purchases through the Nintendo eShop and physical game cartridges. Van Zyll noted that the company “knows how much the fans like it” and remains committed to providing physical media as a viable option.

Nintendo’s position reflects broader consumer demand for physical media ownership, which remains significant despite the industry’s gradual shift toward digital distribution. By maintaining this agnostic stance, Nintendo distinguishes itself from competitors and acknowledges that physical games continue to serve an important segment of their player base.

Nintendo executive confirms company has “no plans to ditch physical games”

Sources