A report from independent video game retailer Video Game Plus suggests that the upcoming physical release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for the Switch 2 will not contain a game disc or card, but rather a download code.
This detail, if accurate, would mean players purchasing the physical version would need to redeem a code on the Nintendo eShop. Such a system typically ties the game to a single account and prevents resale. Video Game Plus has publicly stated on X that it will not carry the Switch 2 version of Modern Warfare 4 because of this.
"The future of physical gaming should concern every physical game fan," the retailer said. "And if it's just a box with a download code inside, VGP won't be carrying it. We believe physical games should actually be physical games."
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 marks the series' return to a Nintendo console for the first time since Call of Duty: Ghosts on the Wii U in 2013. The game is slated to launch on Switch 2 simultaneously with its PC, PlayStation, and Xbox versions.
Activision has not yet officially confirmed the format of the Switch 2 physical edition, and the publisher has been contacted for comment. It remains unclear whether the PlayStation and Xbox versions will include physical discs.
Should the report prove true, it indicates that Activision may have opted against utilizing Nintendo's Game Key Card system. This system allows publishers to release physical products without a disc or card, while still enabling consumers to resell their copies.
This reported move follows a trend seen with other high-profile releases. Grand Theft Auto 6 is a notable upcoming title that will reportedly forgo physical discs for PlayStation and Xbox. On Switch 2, a yet-to-be-announced port of Diablo 4 is also rumored to be adopting a similar code-in-box format.
Players eager to experience Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Switch 2 can look forward to the game's second beta phase later this week. The beta is expected to include one campaign mission and a variety of multiplayer maps and modes, including a preview of Warzone.