Every physical third-party Switch 2 game seen in Japan so far is a Game-Key Card requiring a download | VGC
Every physical third-party Switch 2 game seen in Japan so far is a Game-Key Card requiring a download | VGC
by Kenobi_High_Ground
41 Comments
Ambitious_Ad2338
So from what i read:
* The only time internet is required is the first time, when you insert the key card and download the game
* From that moment onwards you can always play offline, but the game won’t play unless you have the key card inserted
So basically like a physical game, but you have to download the game and the burden of storage is on you, so pretty much a direct downgrade.
Compared to pure digital, the advantages are:
1. It allows the existence of a second-hand market, since they are not tied to any account
2. You can lend it to your friends as easily as you would lend them a physical game
Once the servers will be down, you will most surely able to use the key card to keep playing the game you already downloaded, but will lose the game you didn’t download by then, which is just like digital games.
I’ve seen some people are taking it for granted that there is going to be an authentication from servers, but i don’t think we actually know anything about it.
Isn’t it possible that the key card act as… well, the key necessary to make use of the game file you downloaded with it, without any further authentication needed after that? In that case, you would be able to play the game in a any console if you have both the key card and a SD card with the downloaded game.
A bit like how you are able to play a physical game on any console, except you are forced to provide for the storage on your own.
If that was the case, it could allow people to play their game on a different console even after the servers are down, as long as they have both the game file on a SD card and the key card, which is something that digital games don’t allow.
BactaBobomb
Why… ? Is it cheaper to manufacture cartridges without a significant amount of data on them? Is this some sort of mandate by Nintendo to help stop people dumping their games? Why would the first-party titles not do this, if that were the case?
This is all so confusing to me. Nintendo seems to be overcomplicating things for no reason.
orlec
Internet required for install, not required to play.
If internet was required for play they would need to state that **clearly**, which they have not.
Edit:
>An internet connection is only required when you launch the game for the first time. After this, the game can be started even without an internet connection. However, like regular physical software, **the game-key card must be inserted into the console in order to play the game**.
>
>If you insert a game-key card into another Nintendo Switch 2, the game can also be played on that console by following the above steps.
Probably because the key cards are cheaper than buying the game cards to put games on.
Publisher/ developer has to buy the game cards from Nintendo more the memory you need more the game cards are going to cost.
Nintendo will be making so much money if Switch 2 is a success.
RedPiece0601
I am worried because the downloading experience sucked on switch 1. Also modern games require so much storage.
Lanstapa
This whole concept is so strange. I get these companies want to push digital because they can make more via their stores and it removes the second hand market, but making a physical cart just to act as a key for a digital game? Why? Its wasting money on near-useless plastic bits and moulds.
Is this meant to drive people off physical quicker by sowing doubt? Like the average consumer will just associate all physicals as being the Game-Key versions?
Jumpy-Swimmer3266
This is horrible, it takes away the fun in game collecting
RhetoricalOrator
Another step toward “You don’t own the game.” If Nintendo can remove access from their servers, you definitely don’t own it.
This will be another strong reason for people to archive game.
Omotai
There are some third-party games that are key cards in Japan but not internationally, e.g. Daemon x Machina. I think it may have something to do with cutting costs to hit a lower retail price in Japan, for the same exchange rate reasons that the discounted Japanese-only Switch exists.
spidersteph
The only third party Japanese games with a “real” physical cart is Cyber Punk and Rune Factory.
Icelightning250
And this is the end of physical media. All games will start to be needing internet for download. It is sa shame. Xbox is doing it for all their first party games as well.
Hymmerinc
Note that some games in Japan that are game key cards are full physical releases in the west… which is really odd
GensouEU
Is Kunitsu-gami a Japan only physical release? No other retailer anywhere has it listed and even Capcom’s own site only mentions a digital version
ultrainstict
Its worth noting in some of these cases, non japan physical copies were on real cards.
Could be an extension of nintendo discounting the switch in japan to keep prices down due to the week currency.
Sword_by_some
Download physical games arent great, but that white rectangle on front cover is ugly, runing apeal of physical games a bit.
adorbhypers
I’m curious now if this whole key card thing was more of a demand from 3rd parties and Nintendo is only doing it for stronger 3rd party support.
hustladafox
Does anyone have any experience with collecting in Japan? What is the market there likely to make of the key card games?
Sir_Bax
Considering price of 32 and 64 GB cartridges, I’m not surprised at all.
lions2lambs
I’m worried about storage; 256GB is not enough for most PS5 games that are making it onto the Switch 2 and a 2TB express will cost an arm and a leg.
yeahitsblack
Ugh, this sucks for physical collectors. I buy physical to avoid downloads, not to still have to download half the game. What’s the point of the card if there’s barely anything on it? Might as well just buy digital at that point. Nintendo’s first party games still come complete on cart, at least.
SpikeRosered
So basically it’s pointless to use this system unless you specifically want to let people borrow the game?
Hanzo_The_Ninja
Expect more of this and Switch 1 cartridges to be discontinued by the end of 2026.
**Edit:** Macronix’s NOR chips have a maximum capacity of 2GB. They’re not suitable for use in game cartridges.
FluidFeed3059
I really don’t care about this
spilk
when preordering Switch 2 I blindly added Yakuza 0 to my cart to have something other than Mario Kart to play on day 1 and had to subsequently cancel it because it turns out that is a game key here in the US and I didn’t notice it in the frenzy to check out. fuck that noise. I’m particularly mad about Bravely Default being a game key card. I ended up ordering Cyberpunk 2077 instead.
This is the hill I die on, apparently.
Lordofthereef
I didn’t *really* care about cyberpunk being on switch but I have half a mind to buy it just in principle now…
Practical-Courage812
While the GKC helps with the issue of resale, I don’t really see the point of them since physical used to be good with helping you not fill storage. These just seem like a hassle since you have the downside of needing to swap “cartridges” in order to play games while still needing to use up storage space. It’s basically digital but without the positives of it (easy to go between games).
PlaneCandy
What they really need to do is to sell two versions, with a higher priced variant containing the full game
DrunkenSquirrel82
My biggest worry is storage space. If game key cards become the new standard, they will eat up internal storage very fast. Street Fighter 6 alone is almost 1/5 of the Switch 2’s storage.
BigH5953
When purchasing a game is it easy to which it is going to be?
Resh_IX
How would different region games with key cards work? Would you need an account with that game’s region to download the full game?
Z3M0G
Saw that coming a mile away. 3rd party are not going to want to pay for storage carts if they don’t need to.
Z3M0G
The ONLY reason I buy physical on Switch is because it saves storage space. I guess I won’t be doing that much at all on SW2.
HydraTower
Remember when 500GB was too small in 2013 when the Xbox One and PS4 came out? Have fun with half!
zzinolol
This is insane. The future is very grim. What happens once the servers go down?
LazarusDark
What is even the point of a cartridge based system if it is actually all digital. (Yes, the 1st party I will be on cart, but that’s a whole lot that isn’t on carts)
tap836
Well, that will be a bunch of games I don’t consider buying.
Speedster012
So what’s the difference between the game key cards and the ones today? Don’t you still have to download current switch cards for updates and stuff?
Geordi14er
I think it’s a safe bet that the first party games will at least have the game on the cart. I’ll probably just go digital. I never sell my games so these things are kinda pointless
MovieGuyMike
Can’t say I’m surprised after how third party publishers handled games on switch 1.
Kageromero
I was gonna buy sonic x shadow generations for the switch. I love owning physical copies of games. Now that its just a key card, there is absolutely no reason for it, I can buy it on steam for less than half the price and just hook up my switch controller to it
41 Comments
So from what i read:
* The only time internet is required is the first time, when you insert the key card and download the game
* From that moment onwards you can always play offline, but the game won’t play unless you have the key card inserted
So basically like a physical game, but you have to download the game and the burden of storage is on you, so pretty much a direct downgrade.
Compared to pure digital, the advantages are:
1. It allows the existence of a second-hand market, since they are not tied to any account
2. You can lend it to your friends as easily as you would lend them a physical game
Once the servers will be down, you will most surely able to use the key card to keep playing the game you already downloaded, but will lose the game you didn’t download by then, which is just like digital games.
I’ve seen some people are taking it for granted that there is going to be an authentication from servers, but i don’t think we actually know anything about it.
Isn’t it possible that the key card act as… well, the key necessary to make use of the game file you downloaded with it, without any further authentication needed after that? In that case, you would be able to play the game in a any console if you have both the key card and a SD card with the downloaded game.
A bit like how you are able to play a physical game on any console, except you are forced to provide for the storage on your own.
If that was the case, it could allow people to play their game on a different console even after the servers are down, as long as they have both the game file on a SD card and the key card, which is something that digital games don’t allow.
Why… ? Is it cheaper to manufacture cartridges without a significant amount of data on them? Is this some sort of mandate by Nintendo to help stop people dumping their games? Why would the first-party titles not do this, if that were the case?
This is all so confusing to me. Nintendo seems to be overcomplicating things for no reason.
Internet required for install, not required to play.
If internet was required for play they would need to state that **clearly**, which they have not.
Edit:
>An internet connection is only required when you launch the game for the first time. After this, the game can be started even without an internet connection. However, like regular physical software, **the game-key card must be inserted into the console in order to play the game**.
>
>If you insert a game-key card into another Nintendo Switch 2, the game can also be played on that console by following the above steps.
https://www.nintendo.com/au/hardware/nintendo-switch-2/game-key-cards/?srsltid=AfmBOoqmJYxJfOMBoJvGfe6gO-BJI8E6NZ4OE-CrKu3n4pWEwGOC4ZsI
oh really? haven’t seen this posted before
Probably because the key cards are cheaper than buying the game cards to put games on.
Publisher/ developer has to buy the game cards from Nintendo more the memory you need more the game cards are going to cost.
Nintendo will be making so much money if Switch 2 is a success.
I am worried because the downloading experience sucked on switch 1. Also modern games require so much storage.
This whole concept is so strange. I get these companies want to push digital because they can make more via their stores and it removes the second hand market, but making a physical cart just to act as a key for a digital game? Why? Its wasting money on near-useless plastic bits and moulds.
Is this meant to drive people off physical quicker by sowing doubt? Like the average consumer will just associate all physicals as being the Game-Key versions?
This is horrible, it takes away the fun in game collecting
Another step toward “You don’t own the game.” If Nintendo can remove access from their servers, you definitely don’t own it.
This will be another strong reason for people to archive game.
There are some third-party games that are key cards in Japan but not internationally, e.g. Daemon x Machina. I think it may have something to do with cutting costs to hit a lower retail price in Japan, for the same exchange rate reasons that the discounted Japanese-only Switch exists.
The only third party Japanese games with a “real” physical cart is Cyber Punk and Rune Factory.
And this is the end of physical media. All games will start to be needing internet for download. It is sa shame. Xbox is doing it for all their first party games as well.
Note that some games in Japan that are game key cards are full physical releases in the west… which is really odd
Is Kunitsu-gami a Japan only physical release? No other retailer anywhere has it listed and even Capcom’s own site only mentions a digital version
Its worth noting in some of these cases, non japan physical copies were on real cards.
Could be an extension of nintendo discounting the switch in japan to keep prices down due to the week currency.
Download physical games arent great, but that white rectangle on front cover is ugly, runing apeal of physical games a bit.
I’m curious now if this whole key card thing was more of a demand from 3rd parties and Nintendo is only doing it for stronger 3rd party support.
Does anyone have any experience with collecting in Japan? What is the market there likely to make of the key card games?
Considering price of 32 and 64 GB cartridges, I’m not surprised at all.
I’m worried about storage; 256GB is not enough for most PS5 games that are making it onto the Switch 2 and a 2TB express will cost an arm and a leg.
Ugh, this sucks for physical collectors. I buy physical to avoid downloads, not to still have to download half the game. What’s the point of the card if there’s barely anything on it? Might as well just buy digital at that point. Nintendo’s first party games still come complete on cart, at least.
So basically it’s pointless to use this system unless you specifically want to let people borrow the game?
Expect more of this and Switch 1 cartridges to be discontinued by the end of 2026.
Macronix, the manufacturer of the XtraROM chips (a type of NAND flash memory) used in Switch and Switch 2 cartridges, [is reducing their XtraROM offerings to focus on more profitable 3D NOR chips](https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20250213PD231/3d-inventory-macronix-international-rom-2026.html).
**Edit:** Macronix’s NOR chips have a maximum capacity of 2GB. They’re not suitable for use in game cartridges.
I really don’t care about this
when preordering Switch 2 I blindly added Yakuza 0 to my cart to have something other than Mario Kart to play on day 1 and had to subsequently cancel it because it turns out that is a game key here in the US and I didn’t notice it in the frenzy to check out. fuck that noise. I’m particularly mad about Bravely Default being a game key card. I ended up ordering Cyberpunk 2077 instead.
This is the hill I die on, apparently.
I didn’t *really* care about cyberpunk being on switch but I have half a mind to buy it just in principle now…
While the GKC helps with the issue of resale, I don’t really see the point of them since physical used to be good with helping you not fill storage. These just seem like a hassle since you have the downside of needing to swap “cartridges” in order to play games while still needing to use up storage space. It’s basically digital but without the positives of it (easy to go between games).
What they really need to do is to sell two versions, with a higher priced variant containing the full game
My biggest worry is storage space. If game key cards become the new standard, they will eat up internal storage very fast. Street Fighter 6 alone is almost 1/5 of the Switch 2’s storage.
When purchasing a game is it easy to which it is going to be?
How would different region games with key cards work? Would you need an account with that game’s region to download the full game?
Saw that coming a mile away. 3rd party are not going to want to pay for storage carts if they don’t need to.
The ONLY reason I buy physical on Switch is because it saves storage space. I guess I won’t be doing that much at all on SW2.
Remember when 500GB was too small in 2013 when the Xbox One and PS4 came out? Have fun with half!
This is insane. The future is very grim. What happens once the servers go down?
What is even the point of a cartridge based system if it is actually all digital. (Yes, the 1st party I will be on cart, but that’s a whole lot that isn’t on carts)
Well, that will be a bunch of games I don’t consider buying.
So what’s the difference between the game key cards and the ones today? Don’t you still have to download current switch cards for updates and stuff?
I think it’s a safe bet that the first party games will at least have the game on the cart. I’ll probably just go digital. I never sell my games so these things are kinda pointless
Can’t say I’m surprised after how third party publishers handled games on switch 1.
I was gonna buy sonic x shadow generations for the switch. I love owning physical copies of games. Now that its just a key card, there is absolutely no reason for it, I can buy it on steam for less than half the price and just hook up my switch controller to it