> You can still buy the console that can read physical games and buy the physical games and never plug it on the internet, right?
Not always. Many games don't get physical releases, or only get an expensive limited-run physical collectors edition, and when they do get a physical release it doesn't necessarily even contain all of the game data so part of it may still have to be downloaded.
The latter is apparently going to be even more common with the Switch 2 due to the high cost of its faster storage. Nintendo is now giving publishers the option of releasing "game key carts" which contain zero game data and are essentially just DRM dongles that grant permission to download and play the game.
Not always. Many games don't get physical releases, or only get an expensive limited-run physical collectors edition, and when they do get a physical release it doesn't necessarily even contain all of the game data so part of it may still have to be downloaded.
The latter is apparently going to be even more common with the Switch 2 due to the high cost of its faster storage. Nintendo is now giving publishers the option of releasing "game key carts" which contain zero game data and are essentially just DRM dongles that grant permission to download and play the game.