Bethesda proudly announced that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be released on a full cartridge for the Switch 2 in a physical edition—though other games for this console will be offered as mere codes in a box.
During today's partner-focused Nintendo Direct, dedicated to upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Bethesda head Todd Howard briefly appeared to welcome a whole lineup of games coming to Nintendo's new console.
In a press release sent to IGN after the broadcast, Bethesda detailed its launch plans further and announced on social media that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will receive a full cartridge release, rather than on the widely criticized Nintendo game key cards.
And yes, the game will come on a cartridge. #IndianaJones https://t.co/jJ0cTDKLLL
Bethesda's social media post received numerous positive responses, with many fans wondering how the game managed to fit on a Switch 2 cartridge. 'Wow, completely unexpected,' wrote Digital Foundry veteran and game preservation enthusiast John Linneman in reply.
Late last year, a Switch 2 developer initially suggested that Nintendo was preparing to offer manufacturers more game cartridge sizes for releasing games, instead of relying on key cards. However, the developer then removed most of this information from the internet and hinted that they couldn't announce something that Nintendo itself hadn't officially confirmed.
Three other Bethesda games getting physical editions on the Switch 2 this year won't release on cartridges or even key cards. Instead, as Bethesda stated, Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition will have physical editions in a 'code-in-a-box' format.
Of course, all these games will also be available via digital download on the Switch 2 eShop.
As announced (and leaked) earlier today, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will release digitally and physically on May 12. The game's DLC, The Order of Giants, will also be available for separate download on that date.
Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition will release digitally on February 24, with the physical edition on April 28. Skyrim Anniversary Edition is already available digitally and will appear in a box on April 28. Finally, Oblivion Remastered currently has a vague launch window—'2026.'
For more information, here's everything else that was announced at today's partner-focused Nintendo Direct.
