Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition surprisingly became the best-selling physical third-party game at the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, thanks to an optimized port and a full cartridge. Find out why it stood out among its competitors..
The Nintendo Switch 2, officially launched on June 5, 2025, made a strong debut — not only because of its improved hardware but also due to the return of support from third-party studios.
While Nintendo’s own titles dominated initial sales, CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition surprisingly stood out as the best-selling physical third-party release.
🔹 CD Projekt’s Strategy Pays Off
CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 was “among the best-selling physical games, just behind Nintendo’s own launches.” He attributed this success to several factors — chiefly the decision to release a complete version of the game on a 64 GB cartridge, instead of the controversial “game-key card” format commonly used by other studios.
This approach was praised by collectors and physical media fans alike. While many third-party games performed poorly during the Switch 2 launch, Cyberpunk was the only one to stand out. In the United States, sales data showed it ranked second among the best-selling physical games during the debut week, trailing only Mario Kart World.
📈 A Long-Term Strategy
Unlike other titles that usually peak right after release, CD Projekt believes Cyberpunk sales on Switch 2 will grow more gradually over time. The company sees Nintendo’s audience as more responsive to ongoing availability than initial hype.
“We believe that Cyberpunk 2077 sales on the Nintendo Switch 2 will be more spread out over time, unlike previous launches on other platforms where the peak happened early on,” Nowakowski stated.
🧩 Why Most Third-Party Games Failed
🔹 Weak Launch Sales
Despite the Switch 2 breaking hardware sales records — both in Japan and the U.S. — most third-party games didn’t reach significant numbers. In the UK, 86% of physical sales were Nintendo titles. In the U.S., that figure was 62%.
🔹 Backward Compatibility
With backward compatibility and free updates for the original Switch’s catalog, many players continued enjoying their older games with improved performance, reducing the incentive to buy new third-party titles.
🔹 Controversy Over Physical Format
Although some fans criticized the widespread use of “game-key cards” — physical boxes without the full cartridge — analysts like Daniel Ahmad argued this wasn’t the main cause of weak sales. Game quality and marketing remain more decisive factors.
🎯 Why Cyberpunk Worked
- Well-optimized port — The Switch 2 version is graphically impressive and runs smoothly, showcasing the console’s power.
- Complete physical edition — A true collector’s edition, with all content on a single cartridge — rare in today’s market.
- Little competition — Few strong third-party games launched alongside the console. With titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Hogwarts Legacy delayed, Cyberpunk had room to shine.
Even Michael Douse, publishing director of Baldur’s Gate 3, said Cyberpunk’s success was not due to the physical format but because it was “a great port released during a period with little third-party competition.”
🧭 The Future of Third-Party Games on Switch 2
For third-party games to succeed on Switch 2, they will need:
- Well-optimized ports with performance improvements
- Complete physical editions on cartridges
- Innovative content that doesn’t directly compete with already accessible games
Future growth will depend on increased support from major publishers like EA, Take-Two, and Microsoft — and on reducing cartridge production costs.
🔚 Final Considerations
The Switch 2 had a strong hardware launch, delivering powerful specs like 4K support, 120Hz portable mode, HDR, and new controls. Its initial game lineup was solid but still heavily reliant on Nintendo’s own titles. In this context, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition stood out as an exception — combining robust technical execution, physical packaging praised by fans, and ideal launch timing.
The game’s performance sends a clear message to the industry: there is room — and profit — for well-made third-party games on Switch 2, but only under certain conditions — full cartridges, polished ports, and low competition.
Whether other studios can replicate this formula remains to be seen.
