I feel like the ‘negative response’ to these is probably overstated. I just really doubt your average person, who happily keeps their game console online and patiently downloads an update every time they insert a new game, cares at all.
To be clear, I do not like GKCs myself and will not buy one. But I don’t think folks should get their hopes up.
There are tons of factors here, from loud niches influencing general opinion, to the concrete sales games are/are not getting, to the high cost of storage expansion on Switch 2. So hopefully the winds do change a little over time. But if a 3rd party publisher can’t squeeze out margin per copy on a game, it (mostly) doesn’t matter how many or few copies they sell.
I honestly couldn’t care less about the game key cards. I understand it’s a frustrating downgrade for people who like to collect physical games, but personally I’ve bought every single game I have for Switch 1 or Switch 2 on the eshop. I don’t care about having a box, I’m not interested in reselling them and I like having all my games on the system/SD card and not having to switch cartridges to play different games. Sure it sucks for game preservation, but if and when I’m unable to play the games, I probably won’t care anymore, because I’ll be on to the next thing.
Yeah, I’m a filthy casual, but most normies are probably more like me, than the collectors.
That’s valid and there’s not much filthy about it at all. Digital is convenient and I see why many people are all in on that, even though it’s not for me.
But GKCs are kinda whack from that angle too. Adds clutter IRL, have to switch between cards; basically most of the same disadvantages you see from physical, without some of the upsides.
I think there is another segment though, that just wants access to games as cheap as possible. GKC may, over time, work well in that sense.
I feel like the ‘negative response’ to these is probably overstated. I just really doubt your average person, who happily keeps their game console online and patiently downloads an update every time they insert a new game, cares at all.
To be clear, I do not like GKCs myself and will not buy one. But I don’t think folks should get their hopes up.
There are tons of factors here, from loud niches influencing general opinion, to the concrete sales games are/are not getting, to the high cost of storage expansion on Switch 2. So hopefully the winds do change a little over time. But if a 3rd party publisher can’t squeeze out margin per copy on a game, it (mostly) doesn’t matter how many or few copies they sell.
I honestly couldn’t care less about the game key cards. I understand it’s a frustrating downgrade for people who like to collect physical games, but personally I’ve bought every single game I have for Switch 1 or Switch 2 on the eshop. I don’t care about having a box, I’m not interested in reselling them and I like having all my games on the system/SD card and not having to switch cartridges to play different games. Sure it sucks for game preservation, but if and when I’m unable to play the games, I probably won’t care anymore, because I’ll be on to the next thing.
Yeah, I’m a filthy casual, but most normies are probably more like me, than the collectors.
That’s valid and there’s not much filthy about it at all. Digital is convenient and I see why many people are all in on that, even though it’s not for me.
But GKCs are kinda whack from that angle too. Adds clutter IRL, have to switch between cards; basically most of the same disadvantages you see from physical, without some of the upsides.
I think there is another segment though, that just wants access to games as cheap as possible. GKC may, over time, work well in that sense.