Nintendo Switch game collectors who like Wolfenstein may be concerned about the title’s next entry. Bethesda confirmed that the Wolfenstein Youngblood Switch port would require a download when it comes out on July 26. There will be a retail version available, but it will apparently only have a download code within the box.
The publisher recently updated its FAQ page for Youngblood, the latest chapter in the hit first-person shooting series. In it, it notes that the game will need a download no matter what version you pick up.
“The Nintendo Switch version of Wolfenstein: Youngblood will be available digitally,” the company noted in the FAQ. “The physical version of Wolfenstein: Youngblood will be a digital download code in the box with no game cartridge. A download will be required to play the game.”
This extends to the physical version a download is “required to play Wolfenstein: Youngblood on Nintendo Switch, whether you purchase the game digitally or physically at retail.”
This is a bit of a change from how Wolfenstein 2: The New Order was formatted last year. A physical version was released, but came with a required 8GB download to make sure the game would run properly. It’s also available digitally, but with a much larger download of 22GB.
It’s not clear why Bethesda is making this change. The company has released big titles in the past that have worked with a combination of cartridge and download. Along with Wolfenstein, it also did this for Doom, which required a 5GB download for multiplayer. However, it could be the pricing of cartridges that have more space.
This isn’t the first time that a game company has released a physical copy of a game with a download code inside. Epic Games applied this practice to Fortnite last year, albeit with special gear added as a bonus. Hopefully this won’t damper too many spirits on the Wolfenstein front of the Switch.
