Switch 2's Game-Key Cards Are "A Little Disheartening" For Game Preservation, Says Dev

There is a lot new with Switch 2, but Nintendo's introduction of Game-Key cards has muddied the waters of physical versus digital and led to plenty of debate. For instance, not everyone is a fan of this new purchasing option, like Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick. That's because instead of containing the game on the cartridge, Game-Key cards provide access to a downloadable copy of the title.

Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Kick believes that Game-Key cards are "a step back" for game preservation. "Seeing Nintendo do this is a little disheartening. You would hope that a company that big, that has such a storied history, would take preservation a little more seriously," said Kick, who oversees a developer looking to remaster PS3 and Xbox 360 games. Nightdive's next game is System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, set to launch June 26.

Videogame Heritage Society cofounder James Newman isn't as put off by Game-Key cards, citing constant updates for physical games as a problem regardless. "Even when a cartridge does contain data on day one of release, games are so often patched, updated and expanded through downloads that the cart very often loses its connection to the game, and functions more like a physical copy protection dongle for a digital object," said Newman, who's also a professor at Bath Spa University in England.

Nintendo has pointed out that Game-Key cards aren't tied to any account. That means you can actually share the cartridges with friends or even trade them into stores. An internet connection is needed at first to download the game, but afterward one isn't required as long as the cartridge is inserted into the Switch 2.

There is clearly concern about how long Game-Key cards will work in the future, especially considering Nintendo closed down the 3DS and Wii U eShops in early 2023. However, keep in mind that players can still re-download content they already purchased on those systems--and that goes all the way back to the Wii Shop currently. So there is precedent that Game-Key cards will work for 15-plus years, though only Nintendo can control that.

Switch 2 is set to launch June 5 for $450 in the US. System preorders are sold out, but games and accessories are available at major retailers. GameSpot also has a list of Switch 2 titles with the full game on the cartridge, including Cyberpunk 2077.