[NintendoLife] Nintendo Has "No Plans" To Use Game-Key Cards For First-Party-Developed Titles

Topher

Topher

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You can push any fears about seeing Mario on a Game-Key Card aside, as Nintendo has revealed to us that it has "no plans" to use the new physical format on its first-party-developed titles.

After more Switch 2 titles began to crop up under the Game-Key Card label, we reached out to Nintendo UK for confirmation about whether we should expect to see the same approach used on Mario, Link and Samus' future endeavours. Today, we received the following response:

We currently have no plans to use game-key cards for Nintendo-developed titles
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Now yes, the answer does specifically use the wording "Nintendo-developed titles" there, so there's every chance that games published by the Big N might be subject to a key card release down the line. But your major entries in the core series will be complete on cart for the time being, it seems.

This official word echoes Doug Bowser's sentiment in his statement on the purpose of Switch 2's new physical option. "Physical games are still a key part of our business," the NOA president told IGN in a recent interview, while Game-Key Cards are "a way that our publishing partners are able to bring more content onto the platform, deeper and larger, more immersive content on the platform".

The "publishing partners" specification in the above quote had us pretty confident that first-party releases would be off the Key Card table, but it's nice to have official confirmation, all the same.

www.nintendolife.com

Nintendo Has "No Plans" To Use Game-Key Cards For First-Party-Developed Titles

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www.nintendolife.com www.nintendolife.com
 
doh!

already pushed it aside second 1. Replaces the codes in the box offenders. Ubisoft is a big one of those. Especially in recent times. They even do codes in the box for some of their Switch games that previously were carts.

AT the same time, everything is going to end up digital. Just look around.
 
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Jack Nicholson Yes GIF

Good on Nintendo. fuck 3rd party using Game key cards.
 
bender said:
It's an inexpensive option for developers because Nintendo loves developers, its' customers, and even you, Chrissy.
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I really don't have a problem with them since folks can still resell the cards. I just don't get why the post was making this out like third parties were doing something wrong here.
 
I work with an indie publisher of Switch games (and Sony platforms too), and the prices for the minimum orders for Switch are pretty high for niche titles, and that's mostly down to the cost of the cart itself. I forget the exact number, but I want to say it's like a minimum of 20k-30k unit order for physical release, which just doesn't make sense for a lot of niche releases that could otherwise make a profit at smaller quantities. This is in direct comparison to discs, like on PS4/5, which are drastically cheaper with lower minimums.

So in that regard, so long as consumers are okay with the key cards, I feel like it's the best move they could make. It's a better system than redemption codes tied to a specific account, at the very least. And it will presumably help with the manufacturing costs and minimums for very niche titles.

Like, don't get me wrong… I'd still love to have full data carts. But the reality is that that system prevents a ton of smaller games from getting physical releases. I honestly feel like the key card solution is the best we're going to get within the scope of reality.
 
Game-key Cards make sense for larger 64GB+ games, and yes, are a way for more publishers to bring bigger, deeper games to the console.

However, Game-key cards make ZERO sense for games 20GB and less. Nintendo can EASILY solve this "problem" by providing more Cartridge sizes for publishers to use.

Hopefully this is just some launch period BS and Nintendo finds a way to manufacture, at the very least, a cheaper 32GB card for publishers to opt towards sometime later this year.
 
Gambit2483 said:
Game-key Cards make sense for larger 64GB+ games, and yes, are a way for more publishers to bring bigger, deeper games to the console.

However, Game-key cards make ZERO sense for games 20GB and less. Nintendo can EASILY solve this "problem" by providing more Cartridge sizes for publishers to use.

Hopefully this is just some launch period BS and Nintendo finds a way to manufacture, at the very least, a cheaper 32GB card for publishers to opt towards sometime later this year.
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The question is Are express based carts possible under 64
 
Taddypole said:
The question is Are express based carts possible under 64
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Are we sure that's the same format that Switch 2 game cartridges are using? Also, isn't Nintendo directly in control of the manufacturing of these game cards? They should be able to do special orders if needed.
 
GoldenEye98 said:
What 3rd party games aside from Cyberpunk are using data cards?
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I think right now it's just Cyberpunk alongside Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar.

Supposedly (as far as we know for now) Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is getting a "data card" release in September, at least in the west (it's a game key card in Japan).
 
Gambit2483 said:
Game-key Cards make sense for larger 64GB+ games, and yes, are a way for more publishers to bring bigger, deeper games to the console.

However, Game-key cards make ZERO sense for games 20GB and less. Nintendo can EASILY solve this "problem" by providing more Cartridge sizes for publishers to use.

Hopefully this is just some launch period BS and Nintendo finds a way to manufacture, at the very least, a cheaper 32GB card for publishers to opt towards sometime later this year.
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Horseganador said:
They're waiting to see how the third parties fare with the key cards; if they see people jumping through hoops, they'll follow.
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The reason for Nintendo to only offer one option is to increase demand for 64GB carts and so drive down prices.

Offering lower sizes or using key cards themselves would go against their goal here.
 
Woopah said:
The reason for Nintendo to only offer one option is to increase demand for 64GB carts and so drive down prices.

Offering lower sizes or using key cards themselves would go against their goal here.
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Why are they so invested in driving down costs for the 64GB version when something like 70% of the games will be using less than that? 🤔

Most Switch 2 games seem to be between 10GB-50GB. Why not have 2 sizes out there, that way they can cover a vast majority of games that are 32GB and under?

What publisher would want to order the more expensive 64GB card when their game is 32GB or less?
 
Gambit2483 said:
Why are they so invested in driving down costs for the 64GB version when something like 70% of the games will be using less than that? 🤔

Most Switch 2 games seem to be between 10GB-50GB. Why not have 2 sizes out there, that way they can cover a vast majority of games that are 32GB and under?

What publisher would want to order the more expensive 64GB card when their game is 32GB or less?
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Because games are getting bigger and bigger, and Switch 2 will be Nintendo's main console in 2030 and beyond.

Nintendo might keep file sizes small, but they know most third parties won't. They want Switch 2 to get ports of PS6 games, and I would imagine most of them will be bigger then 32GB. PS5 games are already bigger than that.
 
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tr1p1ex said:
doh!

already pushed it aside second 1. Replaces the codes in the box offenders. Ubisoft is a big one of those. Especially in recent times. They even do codes in the box for some of their Switch games that previously were carts.

AT the same time, everything is going to end up digital. Just look around.
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Codes in the box are almost better than the key cards. Those are only good if you intend to sell a game, otherwise it is digital but you need to stick the losable key card in. Code in a box could potentially be had for less than the eshop price.
 
Woopah said:
Because games are getting bigger and bigger, and Switch 2 will be Nintendo's main console in 2030 and beyond.

Nintendo might keep file sizes small, but they know most third parties won't. They want Switch 2 to get ports of PS6 games, and I would imagine most of them will be bigger then 32GB. PS5 games are already bigger than that.
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True I guess, bit there are also tons of indie games and AA games that won't be anywhere near as big as the future AAA games. Nintendo needs to think about all of those games as well.
 
I like how they had to put out a statement about this - it means that they recognize the backlash these game key carts are getting online, and want to assure people that they don't plan on using them. Essentially, they're acknowledging that these carts will hurt game sales and that consumers seem to be rejecting them outright. Good.
 
The key word in that statement is "currently". That's the magic word that allows them to simply change their mind whenever they feel like it.
 
Gambit2483 said:
True I guess, bit there are also tons of indie games and AA games that won't be anywhere near as big as the future AAA games. Nintendo needs to think about all of those games as well.
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They won't care much about doing anything for indie ganes, because the vast majority of those are digital only anyway.

I could see them offering something smaller for AA games later, once the cost of 64GB carts has come down.
 
These game key cards have been from the very beginning a plan from Nintendo to raise the value of their games compared to third parties, and almost all third parties fell into the trap.

Game key cards have been the perfect demonstration on how third parties don't give a shit about making good things, but simply want to make as much money as possible. Can't wait for them to come crying because "our games don't sell on Switch 2". Well yeah no shit ?! You have 50 GB+ games and yet you don't put them on a 64 GB card ? You already know where you can shove down your game key cards Capcom, Sega, Square-Enix and so on.
 
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I believe them, they have zero plans to use them right now. But after launch when they see how many money all their third parties saved using it they will have plans then.
 
Gambit2483 said:
Are we sure that's the same format
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The switch 2 carts are faster than the switch 1 carts so I'm assuming they are based on the format. Nintendo makes the carts themselves yes but they do not have control over the chips used in the carts they order them for another company. I just find it interesting that express sd consumer cards don't go below 128
Gambit2483 said:
that Switch 2 game cartridges are using? Also, isn't Nintendo directly in control of the manufacturing of these game cards? They should be able to do special orders if needed.
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