The only negative response they care about is the one they will feel financially.
I’m not going to get my hopes up prematurely, but I do think the fact that they’re asking means that there’s at least a chance.
I don’t fully understand the controversy here.
Aren’t game key cards just digital keys but shipped physically? How is this any different then with the Switch 1, that only did digital and physical depending on the developer / publisher?
It’s a reasonable replacement/alternative for “code in a box” games.
The problem is that it’s effectively replacing physical games on the Switch 2 - so far we have 80%+ of 3rd Party releases are using this model, and it’s a significant downgrade for “true” physical - forces the customer to pay the “storage cost”, requires internet access to install the game (not great from a handheld that should work everywhere), is bad for preservation since the game is not on cart.
Also, despite this being a low-cost alternative to carts some publishers are being extra-scummy and INCREASING the price - the Switch 2 version of Trails Beyond the Horizon is a good example, being $10 more than PS4/PS5/Switch 1 despite being effectively an “empty” cart.
I think it’s because people expect that when they opt to buy a game on a physical cartridge, they expect the game to be on the cartridge. With compromises, maybe, but fully on-cartridge.
I also expect that if Nintendo servers go offline, or I never come next my console to the Internet, I can still play the game on the physical cart or disk I bought.
The concern is that several publishers that did true physical releases last generation are now doing Game Key Cards this generation. When these were first announced, I assumed these were just an alternative to code-in-a-box, and marginally less terrible, but now it seems like these are actually replacing true physicals.
Basically, but there are some differences. It’s more like a physical key to a digital game, rather than a one-time unlock code.
GKC:
- No data on card, requires internet & Nintendo service first use
- Installs to storage, taking up space
- Requires card inserted into system to play
- Box is an artifact to display on store and home shelves
- Freely re-sell or buy used
Full physical:
- All data on card, no internet dependence
- Only requires enough space for a save game
- (Unless you download patches and updates, but still takes less storage)
- Requires card inserted into system to play
- Box is an artifact to display on store and home shelves
- Freely re-sell or buy used
Full digital:
- Internet & Nintendo service required to purchase.
- Long term, store front will likely go down much earlier than re-download servers
- Installs to storage, taking up space
- No need to put card in system, play any digital game installed at any time
- Retail presence is limited to codes, either printed on cardboard or code-in-a-box
- No need to store any artifacts, saving valuable space in your home
- Unable to re-sell or buy used.
So, it’s just a slightly different mix of pros and cons. Gotta pick which things you care about.
I can’t understand it either.
I’d consider the digit key cards as a physical cartridge requiring a huge first-day patch (as large as a full game).
Okay, I guess some of the anger comes from the limited storage of console and the high price of fast SD card
I’d consider the digit key cards as a physical cartridge requiring a huge first-day patch (as large as a full game).
People overrate how relevant this is. doesitplay.org tracks how games play “out of the box” and ~80% of Switch 1 games and ~70% of PS5 games they tested don’t require any downloads/patches/internet to be finished.
If the same 20-30% of the games were being release as GCKs we wouldn’t see as many complains. The problem is that this number right now is 80%+ of the 3rd party games.
Okay, I guess some of the anger comes from the limited storage of console and the high price of fast SD card
This an interesting fact most people don’t realize - GKCs are a “hidden” price increase since they push the storage cost to the buyer.
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.
The Switch 2 can be better than the Switch, but it requires there being physical games and a lot of the software lockouts on the console (like for third-party chargers) lifted.
There a chance Nintendo will course-correct. Not much of one, but it’s there.
