Nintendo made sure Switch 2 game cards taste awful

Nintendo Switch 2 game cards will taste horrible. While the publishing giant worked hard to ensure its new games are appealing visually and functionally, it also worked hard to ensure no one eats them.

After years of anticipation, the Switch 2 is finally in focus. The follow-up to Nintendo’s mega-popular gaming system is just weeks out from its June 5, 2025 launch, and thanks to a recent Direct, we know just about everything that’s new.

Hardware under the hood has all been enhanced to help run bigger and more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, but the increased price tag of various games has caused a bit of a stir online.

Nintendo Switch 2 game cards will still taste horrendous

Confirmed exclusively by Gamespot, Nintendo Switch 2 game cards will still have an undesirable taste as to deter younger players or even animals from eating them.

We don’t want anybody to be at risk of any unwanted consumption,” Nintendo’s Takuhiro Dohta said.

“We have indeed made it so that if it enters your mouth, you’ll spit it out.”

While there’s no clear indication as to what exact substance has been applied to Switch 2 game cartridges, Nintendo assured there’s no real harm beyond the gross taste. Should you happen to lick a cartridge, for whatever reason, you won’t need to rush to the emergency ward.

For reference, game cards for the original Switch were coated in denatonium benzoate, as Nintendo itself confirmed. This bittering agent is widely used for this exact purpose, to deter animals or children from consuming dangerous items.

Amusingly enough, however, some of Nintendo’s own gave the original Switch a taste test during its development.

“When the Nintendo Switch was being developed, I did lick it once, but never again. I can’t believe that other people are trying that,” Nintendo’s Kouichi Kawamoto said.