Nintendo says via Bill van Zyll it has no plans to drop physical games
Nintendo Latin America boss Bill van Zyll reportedly said the company still weighs physical and digital releases based on consumer preferences.
- Van Zyll reportedly said on 11 October 2026 that Nintendo considers consumer preferences when deciding between physical and digital releases.
- The available information points to a broader distribution choice, not a formal global policy announcement from Nintendo.
What happened
On 11 October 2026, Bill van Zyll, vice president and general manager of Nintendo Latin America, reportedly spoke with Brazilian YouTuber Coelho no Japao about the split between physical and digital games, according to external summaries. In that context, he is said to have explained that Nintendo looks at what consumers want when releasing games, including on Nintendo Switch 2.
The statement was then summarized by several sites as a sign that Nintendo has no plans to phase out physical games. However, the wording in those reports is less absolute than the headline of the Reddit post in r/gaming, which claimed that Nintendo does not want to scrap physical games.
The available sources do not mention an official worldwide policy change from Nintendo. Based on the information provided, this appears to be mainly an explanation of distribution between physical and digital versions, rather than a new company-wide stance in general terms.
Timeline
11 October 2026: Bill van Zyll reportedly speaks with Coelho no Japao about Nintendo game releases in physical and digital form.
11 October 2026: several news outlets summarize the statement as confirmation that Nintendo has no plans to drop physical games.
12 October 2026: a Reddit post in r/gaming repeats the claim that Nintendo does not want to scrap physical games.
Background
Nintendo has sold games in both physical and digital form for years. On the official Nintendo Store, digital games, physical games, and deals are listed side by side, showing that both distribution formats still exist.
Nintendo’s support information on Switch 2 pricing also distinguishes between digital and physical releases. It states that from May 2026, new digital Nintendo titles for Switch 2 may have a different suggested price than physical versions.
That pricing information underlines that Nintendo treats physical and digital releases as separate products. The sources provided do not say that physical games are going away; they point to both formats continuing.
Related GAME-scanner articles
- Nintendo claim about physical games remains unclear after Reddit post
- Nintendo and physical games: Reddit post and video point to unconfirmed claim
- Nintendo says it does not want to scrap physical games on Switch 2
Sources
- Reddit post in r/gaming claiming Nintendo has no plans to scrap physical games.
- External summaries of an interview with Bill van Zyll, Nintendo Latin America VP and general manager, on 11 October 2026.
- Nintendo Store page listing both digital and physical games.
- Nintendo support page about Switch 2 game pricing from May 2026.