The Nintendo Switch 2 does a lot of things well, like being able to play modern Triple-A titles, including the recently-released Resident Evil Requiem. However, if there is one massive point of contention, it’s the dreaded Game-Key Card situation, with not every title being fully on the cartridge.
The existence of Game-Key Cards has led Japan’s National Diet Library to deem them unfit for preservation, a massive decision for the future of gaming. Meanwhile, some consumers have outright refused to purchase the titles, going as far as to call the console “undesirable” because of the state of physical game collecting.
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Yet, for all the hate that Game-Key Cards have generated in the Switch 2’s first year, it seems that few things could stop people from purchasing the physical edition of Pokemon Pokopia, the first Nintendo-published Game-Key Card title for the Switch 2, as it’s virtually sold-out everywhere.
The Game-Key Card Haters Sure Have A Lot Of Explaining To Do
As first spotted on Reddit, Switch 2 owners are having a bit of difficulty when it comes to getting a physical copy of Pokopia, as the title is pretty much sold-out at most retailers.
For our research, Pokopia is unavailable for pick-up at Best Buy, though you can get a copy shipped. Elsewhere, it’s unavailable at Target, though you can still snag a digital copy. It is similarly unavailable at Walmart, with only a third-party seller offering the game, albeit at a $79.99 mark-up.
On Amazon, the title is being sold, though it has an estimated March 22–26 shipping window, which is likely when the next stock allotment will arrive.
Things don’t seem that much better internationally, either, as Walmart Canada has revealed that its initial allotment has been sold out. The retailer is now offering “Wave 2” pre-orders.
Based off the current state of the Pokopia market, you’d be hard-pressed to believe that people seriously swore off ever buying Game-Key Cards. Perhaps Pokemon is powerful enough to buck that promise. Or maybe the Internet is all a lie.
- Released
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March 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
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