What physical-release format did Pokémon Pokopia use?

The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia used a Game-Key Card.

A Game-Key Card is a physical card that acts as a key for downloading the game rather than containing the complete software in the traditional way. Pokopia was notable as the first Nintendo-published game released in that format.

The digital edition was sold through the Nintendo eShop, while the physical edition was made available for pre-order worldwide in November 2025. Both versions were associated with the Nintendo Switch 2 release.

This format is easy to confuse with a standard Nintendo Game Card, which stores game data on the card itself. The distinction matters because Pokopia’s physical package used the newer Game-Key Card approach, a notable hardware and distribution fact about the title.