Good news for physical media fans — R-Type Dimensions III is now getting a proper, full cartridge release on Nintendo Switch 2 in both Europe and the US.
Following community feedback and a lot of very loud (and very justified) discussion around preservation and physical ownership, the publisher has confirmed that it was able to recalculate production in a way that wasn’t previously possible. The result? The entire western release will ship on a complete physical cartridge, with no download required.
For a series as historically important as R-Type, that’s a big win.
A win for cartridges, with a small catch
There is, however, a downside. Due to ongoing production costs, the retail edition and special edition of the Nintendo Switch 2 version will see a €10 price increase.
It’s not ideal, but in the current physical games climate — especially for cartridge-based releases — it’s also not entirely surprising. What is notable is how the publisher has handled early supporters.
Anyone who pre-ordered the special edition early will still receive the game on cartridge at the original price they paid, with no extra charge. That’s a genuinely decent move, and one you don’t see often enough.
Community pressure actually worked
In a statement shared on social media, the publisher directly thanked fans for their passionate feedback, patience, and enthusiasm for physical releases, crediting the community for helping make the cartridge solution possible.
It’s a rare example of public pushback leading to a tangible improvement — and one that reinforces just how much demand there still is for proper boxed games, especially for long-running retro series.
A proper physical release for a classic series
R-Type Dimensions III is part of a lineage that dates back to the arcades of the late ’80s, so seeing it preserved on a real cartridge rather than split between plastic and a download server feels especially important.
In an era where physical releases are increasingly compromised, this announcement feels like a small but meaningful victory — not just for R-Type fans, but for anyone who still believes games should exist on the media they’re sold on.
If nothing else, it proves that making noise still matters.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
