Summary
Nintendohas probably seen a bit more pushback over theNintendo Switch 2than it was expecting, as they’ve managed to upset fans in a number of ways ever since we got the big system reveal earlier this year.Mario Kart World kicked off anger over video game pricing, while the console itself was also seen as too expensive,and it could get even worse.
Another of the Nintendo Switch 2’s big controversies is regarding game-key cards, which are essentially codes on cartridges that you use to download the full game. It’s a measure for Nintendo to get games onto the Switch 2 that may have larger file sizes than the maximum 64GB cartridges will allow, but obviously raises concerns over video game preservation.
As seen with Doom: The Dark Ages, people that like to buy games physically don’t like the idea of buying glorified download keys,and the recent Arc System Works hackreportedly revealed that Nintendo is only offering third-party developers expensive 64GB cartridges. Rather than eat those costs, many are going for digital-only or game-key card releases instead.
Nintendo Responds To Backlash Over Game-Key Cards
There were worries that this method could eventually see a sharp decline in proper physical games for the Nintendo Switch 2, but CEO Doug Bowser has now addressed concerns over the system’s support for physical gamesin a recent interview with IGN.
When asked whether game-key cards are the future for Nintendo, Bowser claims that proper physical games are still “a key part of our business”, and that Nintendo plans to support them for “the immediate future”.
“In the immediate future, physical games are still a key part of our business,” says Bowser. “And we value our relationships in particular with our retailers, and want to make sure we have products available for them to sell to their consumers. When you look at Game-Key Cards, for us, our goal with Nintendo Switch 2 – similar to what we were able to accomplish on Nintendo Switch – is to have the broadest and deepest library of content we possibly can.”
He then goes on to explain that game-key cards allow third-party developers and publishers to bring “deeper and larger, more immersive content” to the Nintendo Switch 2. So, it sounds like physical games are still part of Nintendo’s future for now, but it will be down todevelopers themselves to choose whether to make an effort to fit their games on a cartridge.
