One of the new features introduced with the arrival of Nintendo Switch 2, the new console from Nintendo, is the concept of Game-Key cards. These are “cartridges” that don’t actually include the game but only provide a key to download and start it digitally.
This idea is not exactly new (some PS5 and Xbox Series X|S games also don’t include the game data but only access rights), but Nintendo Switch 2 has made it clearer and more common. This has upset many gamers, who worry that Game-Key cards will become useless when it’s no longer possible to connect the console to servers, unlike regular cartridges that contain the full game.
However, for some, it’s not a problem at all – in fact, for some it’s a big advantage. We’re talking about publishers, who apparently are “thanking” Nintendo for this solution.
Words From a Gaming Consultant
The information comes from Naoko Kino, the president of the Japanese gaming consultancy company Kyos Inc. He spoke with Bloomberg and shared the following: “Software publishers are thanking Nintendo as they face rising costs to make games.”
To clarify: a Game-Key card doesn’t need a lot of memory since it’s just a key to activate the download and launch the game. As a result, it costs much less than a regular cartridge, especially for modern AAA games that require many gigabytes.
For now, Nintendo games like Mario Kart World will not be Game-Key cards.
With Game-Key cards, publishers can cut one of the costs associated with physical distribution, without losing access to players who want a cartridge and box or who prefer to discover games directly in-store.
