Read Speeds Too Slow for Star Wars Outlaws

The Nintendo Switch 2 has generated plenty of discussion for its hybrid model of physical and digital releases, including the use of Game-Key Cards. While fans speculated that cost savings drove this approach, for Ubisoft, performance is the real reason behind the shift for Star Wars Outlaws.

Rob Bantin, Audio Architect at Ubisoft and part of the team working with the Snowdrop Engine, explained that Switch 2’s cartridge read speeds are not fast enough to support the game. Because the engine relies heavily on rapid data streaming to deliver seamless open-world environments, running directly from the cartridge would create significant performance bottlenecks.

Instead, the game will ship on a Game-Key Card, ensuring the title installs and runs from the console’s internal storage or MicroSD Express expansion for smooth, reliable performance.

Not About Cutting Costs

Bantin also addressed one of the most common community assumptions: that publishers are abandoning cartridges because Game-Key Cards are cheaper to produce. He stressed that production cost was not a factor for Outlaws—performance was the sole concern.

The Ubisoft developer added that if Star Wars Outlaws had been built natively for Switch 2, the cartridge issue may not have been a problem. However, because the game was designed first with SSD-driven platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in mind, the cartridge format could not keep up.

Interestingly, CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077 remains a rare exception, with the cartridge version running smoothly thanks to the highly optimised REDEngine. Bantin noted, however, that such examples are technically demanding outliers rather than the norm.

What This Means for Players

While the absence of a traditional cartridge release may disappoint collectors, the decision highlights Ubisoft’s focus on ensuring a stable gameplay experience. By using Game-Key Cards, Star Wars Outlaws will preserve its open-world ambition on Nintendo’s next-generation hardware without the performance sacrifices that cartridges would impose.