Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 may not receive a traditional physical release on Nintendo Switch 2. According to Video Games Plus, the game’s retail edition will reportedly be a “code-in-box” release containing only a download code rather than a cartridge or Game-Key Card.
The retailer said it would not stock the product because it is
“just a box with a download code inside.”
Activision has not yet officially confirmed the physical packaging details.
The reported release is significant because Modern Warfare 4 will mark Call of Duty’s first appearance on a Nintendo platform in more than a decade. Activision has confirmed that the game launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 23, 2026, alongside other platforms.
The report has also sparked disappointment among some Switch 2 players who were hoping for either a full cartridge or at least a Game-Key Card. Physical editions of the game are available for other consoles, according to Activision’s Modern Warfare 4 support information.
Modern Warfare 4 preorders for Switch 2 begin on August 26, while the open beta is scheduled to include the platform from August 28 to September 1. Activision may provide further details about the reported code-in-box release closer to launch.
