Nintendo has reaffirmed that it has no plans to abandon physical media in the distribution of games. The statement came from Bill van Zyll, vice president and general manager of Nintendo for Latin America, in an interview given to the Coelho channel during Brasil Game Show 2026.
Asked about the future of physical games in a context where Sony has announced the end of disc production for new titles starting in January 2028, van Zyll was direct: the company remains agnostic regarding formats and prioritizes consumer preferences.
“Historically, we don’t have a preference for a specific format. We take consumer preferences very much into consideration. We also have a platform that was just launched. We’re barely just over a year into NS2. It’s got both digital and physical – that capability. There’s no plans to ditch physical. We know how much the fans like it as well, so our position has been to be agnostic.”
The executive further highlighted that the preference for physical media is particularly strong in Latin America and Brazil, where players value the ability to collect, share, and resell games. Recent data from Nintendo itself indicates that about 38.5% of software sales still occur in physical format — a percentage well above that of many other publishers.
Why it matters
While PlayStation and, to a lesser extent, Xbox are moving toward a more digital future, Nintendo maintains cartridges and game-key cards on Switch 2. Van Zyll’s statement comes amid debates about game ownership, preservation, and the value of physical media for collectors. It does not represent a permanent guarantee, but reinforces that, at least in the short and medium term, the physical option will remain available.
In Brazil, physical media faces logistical and stock challenges, but Nintendo has been working to improve distribution. The regional executive’s position is especially relevant for the Latin American audience, where the culture of trades and collections still carries weight.
Sources
- Original interview with Bill van Zyll on the Coelho channel (BGS 2026)
- Universo Nintendo
- IGN Brasil
- Sony's announcement on ending discs in 2028
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By GeekikiBot
