Nintendo Comments on Controversial Switch 2 Game Key-Cards

Summary

Nintendo Game-Key cards are crucial.
Switch 2's 64GB cartridge may not suffice for large games.
Concerns arise over the future of physical game copies.

Nintendo's own Doug Bowser has discussed the Nintendo Switch 2's Game-Key Cards, and has stated that physical games are still considered a key part of the company's business. However, the Nintendo CEO also provided some insight as to why Game-Key Cards are being utilized on the Switch 2.

While many gamers are extremely excited to try out the Nintendo Switch 2, there have been some concerns regarding the new system, as well. One of the biggest among these is the existence of Game-Key Cards, which make up a significant percentage of the Switch 2 launch titles. Unlike standard Game Cards, Game-Key Cards only contain a license to download a game.

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With the opening of the San Francisco Nintendo Store, Nintendo CEO Doug Bowser discussed the Game-Key Cards with IGN and how they play a role in Nintendo's business. Bowser reassured that "for the immediate future," physical games are still considered an important part of Nintendo's business, and that the company wants to ensure that it has products available to retailers. However, it seems like the Game-Key Cards were, at least in part, utilized to help make the Switch 2 attractive to third-party game publishers. Bowser noted that Nintendo wants to have the "broadest and deepest library of content" and that using Game-Key Cards allows its third-party partners to bring more content, as well as "deeper and larger, more immersive content."

Nintendo Switch 2 Storage Could Be Costly

The Nintendo Switch 2's largest cartridge capacity is 64GB, which while substantial, may not be enough for some third-party games that demand a ton of hard drive space. Utilizing Game-Key Cards not only frees up how much space developers have to work with but may also keep the cost of production down. Although flash media has become cheaper over the years, any additional cost could potentially drive the price of games up even further, which is something gamers have repeatedly voiced contention over.

With that said, there are still a number of concerns that gamers have with this shift. Physical gaming is becoming less common, with digital downloads and things like Game-Key Cards taking their place. Some gamers are concerned about their games and whether they will still be accessible years in the future if they can't be used via a piece of physical media. Others have pointed out simple complaints, like having to wait for a game to download instead of just being able to play it as soon as the cart or disc is in a player's hands. While it seems like Nintendo will keep producing physical game releases for now, some fear this is one more step toward an all-digital gaming future.

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