Switch 2 Co-Op Puzzler Orbitals Gets Physical Cartridge Release on Sept 3
Orbitals, the Switch 2-exclusive co-op puzzle adventure from Tokyo studio Shapefarm, will launch with a genuine physical cartridge release on 3rd September, publisher Kepler Interactive has confirmed. The intriguing co-op adventure Orbitals on the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature the full game on the cartridge, meaning no Game-Key Card malarky, which will come as a relief to those of you who like to collect physical games.
The confirmation matters because a growing number of Switch 2 third-party titles have shipped as “game-key cards” — cartridges that act as a licence key requiring a full digital download rather than storing the actual game data. Orbitals skips that entirely, putting the whole adventure on the cart itself.
Maki, Omura and the Storm Wall
Orbitals casts two players as explorers Maki and Omura, two inseparable explorers with a whole lot more determination than experience, who brave the perils of space in search of help for their crumbling station home, now trapped within a supernatural cosmic storm, according to Nintendo’s official product listing. The game is built specifically around two people working together rather than as an optional mode bolted onto a single-player campaign.
The Puzzle Adventure is built from the ground up for asymmetric 2-player co-op, either in local split-screen or online with Nintendo Switch 2 GameShare, or using the Orbitals Global Friend’s Pass, and rewards smart teamwork and clear communication. That GameShare support means only one player technically needs to own a copy for two people to play together locally or online, a feature Nintendo has pushed as a signature Switch 2 selling point.
Hands-on previews from Summer Game Fest back this up. In one moment you’ll be working out carefully timed platforming sections, and in another, tandem piloting a ship through the inky void, making Orbitals the game you want to play with a good pal on a Switch 2 this September, Game Informer reported after a demo session. The outlet also noted that Orbitals game director Jakob Lundgren worked at Hazelight Studios as a designer on A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction, giving the project pedigree from one of the genre’s most decorated co-op houses.
Cutscenes From an Actual Anime Studio
Visually, Orbitals leans hard into a specific era of Japanese animation. Orbitals captures the warmth and style of classic Japanese anime, brought to life with hand-crafted cinematic cutscenes from Studio Massket, full voice acting in English, Japanese and 6 other languages, and an original soundtrack that channels the magic of the era. Studio Massket’s involvement is notable in its own right; the animation house has previously worked on productions including I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability, Lycoris Recoil, Blue Lock, and Sasaki and Miyano.
Gameplay previews describe puzzle-solving built around swapping tools between the two leads. Maki and Omura can select from several different tools they can carry around, with names like the Scrap Hook and Beam Cannon, each serving a natural function though applications can vary — the Beam Cannon can melt steel, but it can also power a cell inside a generator to spin up a station for a co-op partner to access.
Pricing, Deluxe Edition and the No-Single-Player Catch
Retail listings put the physical cartridge at a $49.99 MSRP in the US, matching the digital price on the eShop, with early Amazon pre-order discounts reported by GamesRadar+ ahead of launch. You can grab a full physical copy for as little as $39.88, saving $10 off its $49.99 MSRP, with the digital game currently sitting on the official Nintendo Store for the same price. GamesRadar+ also flagged that this is not a game-key card release and the full anime-inspired co-op game is on the cartridge, echoing the confirmation from My Nintendo News.
Nintendo’s own storefront also lists a Deluxe Edition for owners who want extras beyond the core adventure, described as including the Orbitals base game, a digital artbook packed with retro anime inspired concept art and illustrations, the Orbitals original digital soundtrack, two exclusive character costumes, and two unique ship skins.
One caveat has followed the game since its Game Awards 2025 reveal: there is no solo option. Nintendo’s own product page states plainly that this title does not support single player mode, meaning anyone picking up a physical copy will need a co-op partner, whether on the couch or online via GameChat, to actually get through it.
Already on Shelves in Australia
For local shoppers, physical listings for Orbitals have already gone live well ahead of launch. Australian retailers including EB Games, Officeworks and Sydney-based Gamesmen are all carrying pre-order pages for the Switch 2 cartridge, meaning AU and NZ co-op fans planning a September pickup shouldn’t have trouble tracking down a hard copy locally rather than relying on imports.
The timing of the physical push has also collided with wider industry noise. Nintendo Life noted that Orbitals’ marketing team leaned into its cartridge release in light of yesterday’s bombshell Sony news, a reference to Sony’s recent announcement that it will wind down disc-based PlayStation releases, a move that has reignited debate across the industry about the future of physical game ownership.
Read also: Xbox Disc-to-Digital “Project Positron” System Could Launch Next Week
Join the Conversation