Nintendo Switch Cartridges Retain Bitter Coating to Prevent Ingestion

The upcoming console, launching June 5, 2025, continues Nintendo's safety-first approach with intentionally unpalatable game cards and introduces new red-colored Game-Key Cards.

Nintendo confirmed that Switch 2 cartridges will feature the same bitter coating used in the original Switch to deter accidental ingestion, especially by children.
The bitter taste is achieved using a non-toxic agent, likely denatonium benzoate, which is commonly used to discourage consumption of small objects.
Switch 2 developers, including Kouichi Kawamoto, revealed firsthand experiences with taste-testing the cartridges during development, emphasizing their unpleasantness.
New red-colored Game-Key Cards, some of which may not contain game data but are required for gameplay, mark a design update for the console's physical media.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5, 2025, with a standard version priced at $450 and a $500 bundle that includes Mario Kart World.