Original post: "Requires Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to play. Download code only, no physical game included."

https://ebgames.com.au/nintendo-switch-240293-Xenoblade-Chronicles-2-Torna-the-Golden-Country-Nintendo-Switch

Very disappointing if accurate.

Update 11/9/18: I phoned Nintendo directly (har har) to ask them what the go was.

The rep I spoke to confessed he didn't know and found it confusing and unclear himself, and said he had to speak to his superiors. (Not a great sign when even Nintendo reps are confused about it)

After 5 minutes on hold, he returned to inform me it was "most likely" just a code in a box.

Update #2, 15/9/18: Looks like it's a cartridge after all: 

Nintendo sent over the retail version of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Torna - The Golden Country. Here are some pictures! pic.twitter.com/VIBL3ZyUrS

— Daan Koopman (@NintenDaan) September 14, 2018

I'm a big advocate of physical games, but I don't get how physical DLC would work. Wouldn't you need the base game digital to play it? If so, why buy the base game digitally and the DLC retail? Better just wait for "Game of the Year" editions.

I'm not so sure the site itself has got it right

Look carefully on this link, which has the details of the game on Nintendo's online store: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/nintendo-switch-game/xenoblade-chronicles-2-torna-the-golden-country-art-print/11858493.html

It is the physical game, WITH a download code for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion Pass, the latter of which DOES need the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 game itself to use.

This is driving me fucking crazy. So much contradictory info.

Believe Nintendo and all the news we have been getting since months in all the media over a single random online store.

I've never seen Nintendo explicitly state it's on a cartridge though.

I am sure it's confirmed it's on a cartridge.

Nintendo states that the expansion pass for Xenoblade 2 is a download, Xenoblade 2 Torna isn't.

That's why it get a physical standalone release.

I've always seen it stated that the Expansion Pass download code and the Torna The Golden Country are separate. I've yet to see that you'll get two download codes; one with Torna on it and one with the expansion pass content which will only work with the main game.  

If your worried why don't you just wait for concrete information when the physical copies are out in the wild. Nintendo may send out some early as review copies.

Pubg was also just a digital code in a box with some stickers if you bought it retail.

If you were a big wig at eb games/gamestop and see the industry headed digital, how would you handle it? Seems like there's a standalone physical version too... If it's true.