Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is also coming to Switch 2 as the series' first game on a Nintendo console since Ghosts in 2013. However, the excitement of this return has been overshadowed by a claim about how the physical copy will be presented. Independent game retailer Video Game Plus has suggested that the Switch 2 version will contain only a download code inside the box. This has reignited an important debate for physical game collectors and retailers.
Code in the Box: Changing Physical Game Perception
The code-in-box practice means that inside the game case, instead of a disc or cartridge, there is a download code that can be redeemed once on the eShop. Since this code is tied to an account, it also makes the second-hand sale of the game impossible. In other words, players appear to be buying a physical product, but they actually get a digital license. Video Game Plus reacted strongly to this situation in a statement on its X account: "The future of physical gaming should worry every physical game fan. If the box only contains a download code, VGP will not sell it. We believe physical games should truly be physical."
Retailers' Reaction and Its Place in the Industry
Video Game Plus's decision stands out as an example of resistance by physical game retailers to the transition to digital. This is not the first time such a situation has occurred; it is already being discussed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not include a physical disc for PlayStation and Xbox. On the Switch 2 side, it is said that the not-yet-officially-announced Diablo 4 port will also adopt a similar approach. Nintendo's Game Key Card system, offered as a solution to this problem, allows players to resell the game even though they own a physical case. However, it is not yet known whether Modern Warfare 4 will use this system.
No Official Statement from Activision Yet
Activision has not yet made an official announcement about the format of the Switch 2 version. It also remains unclear whether the physical copies prepared for PlayStation and Xbox will include a disc. The only source of information on this subject is the claim by retailer Video Game Plus and its subsequent statement. Nevertheless, players will soon be able to test how Modern Warfare 4 performs on Switch 2. The second phase of the game's beta begins this weekend and includes a campaign mission, multiplayer maps, and modes; it will also offer the opportunity to experience Warzone for the first time.
This development is a significant turning point for physical game collectors in an era where digitalization is inevitable. Especially the sale of major titles with a code in the box shows that the concept of a 'physical version' is gradually losing its meaning. Whether players buy digitally or physically, what really matters seems to be the game itself. However, this stance by retailers could shape publishers' future strategies and might even cause us to rethink what physical gaming really means.