Nobody is buying the Disgaea 7 Collectors Edition on Switch 2, it's a Game Key Card

How many times are you going to post pics of Switch 1 games requiring a download, pretending it was always like this (while it wasn't) ?
How many times do we need to repeat that it now affects nearly every single third party game out there, and that it wasn't like this on Switch 1 ?
All of these Game Key Card releases on Switch 2 have proper cartridge releases on Switch 1.

Stop pretending you don't understand the obvious, and huge difference between Switch 1 and Switch 2 situation. This is pure denial. This is a disservice to Switch 2 owners, and it is annoying. We get it : you don't give a shit and you absolutely need to defend Nintendo. But you can also not post, rather than spreading bullshit.
This isn't on Nintendo, though, it's the third party's options for saving money. Seems this is the only way to keep from everything being digital only.
 
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Not yet but maybe in a decade or two. This problem isn't physical vs digital. It is the stupid keycard and the price tag. Nintendo lost their damn minds.
Even so, Nintendo was the final wall, and the wall was just torn down. No one wants to buy what are essentially empty boxes and they are a waste of both resources and space.

Sony is probably pleased with Nintendo taking the first bullet on this, so that they can go forward with what they have been wanting to do for a full generation at this point: All digital PS6.
 
This isn't on Nintendo, though, it's the third party's options for saving money. Seems this is the only way to keep from everything being digital only.
Nintendo (reportedly) is giving third party developers the option of an expensive 64 GB game card, or a cheap Key Card. Even though most of them chose the cheaper route to increase their bottom line, I think this is still on Nintendo for not offering smaller capacity / cheaper full game cards for the Switch 2.
 
Nintendo (reportedly) is giving third party developers the option of an expensive 64 GB game card, or a cheap Key Card. Even though most of them chose the cheaper route to increase their bottom line, I think this is still on Nintendo for not offering smaller capacity / cheaper full game cards for the Switch 2.
You have a point there, but that would mean it's also on us for not paying more for games, which would negate the need for those cart options.
 
You have a point there, but that would mean it's also on us for not paying more for games, which would negate the need for those cart options.
I would gladly pay an extra $20 for a copy of Bravely Default remaster, if it weren't a key card. The same for the upcoming Dragon Quest 1 & 2 and Final Fantasy Tactics remakes. As it is, I'm happy those last two are at least getting a Switch 1 version on-cart, and they will likely get a Switch 2 upgrade, which I'll gladly pay for from the eShop and still consider to be a superior alternative to just buying the key card.

Any game that's coming out as a key card only, I plan on buying a) used and b) at an extremely steep discount. If you use key cards as an excuse to "just buy the digital version", then you're just helping to accelerate the decline of physical games.
 
Fuck off with this shit. 90% of Switch games came fully on cart whereas 90% of Switch 2 games so far is on key cards. Huge difference.
I have to ask: why is it really such a big deal in the end? Is it because of data limitations of your internet, limited storage options, or something else? Most every game we buy today physically still requires multiple patches, and once the key cart/disc is downloaded they perform exactly like a physical game does in the end.
 
I would gladly pay an extra $20 for a copy of Bravely Default remaster, if it weren't a key card. The same for the upcoming Dragon Quest 1 & 2 and Final Fantasy Tactics remakes. As it is, I'm happy those last two are at least getting a Switch 1 version on-cart, and they will likely get a Switch 2 upgrade, which I'll gladly pay for from the eShop and still consider to be a superior alternative to just buying the key card.

Any game that's coming out as a key card only, I plan on buying a) used and b) at an extremely steep discount. If you use key cards as an excuse to "just buy the digital version", then you're just helping to accelerate the decline of physical games.
I was just about to say something similar. If we want to keep physical alive then we are going to have to fight for it, and reach deeper in to our pockets. I'm getting to where I really don't care anymore, because I've been getting a lot of damaged physical games through the mail, and it's almost not worth it anymore when I can just easily download games right from the platform store directly to my storage with no chance of being damaged.
 
I have to ask: why is it really such a big deal in the end? Is it because of data limitations of your internet, limited storage options, or something else? Most every game we buy today physically still requires multiple patches, and once the key cart/disc is downloaded they perform exactly like a physical game does in the end.

Of course it's a big deal that games comes fully on a cartridge or disc. In the case of Switch the main benefit was that you could insert the cartridge and in most cases just start playing. Very few games required any sort of download, thus saving not only storage space but also time. I have great internet but I don't want games to be fully dependent on it. And then it's the question about ownership vs digital license. Plus the cover art looks shit with that "key card"-disclaimer plastered on the box.
 
I can see game keys carts working as they will often be cheaper than simply buying the eshop version. But yeah, it sucks. I can also see Nintendo charging in the future for each additional license activation.
 
Of course it's a big deal that games comes fully on a cartridge or disc. In the case of Switch the main benefit was that you could insert the cartridge and in most cases just start playing. Very few games required any sort of download, thus saving not only storage space but also time. I have great internet but I don't want games to be fully dependent on it. And then it's the question about ownership vs digital license. Plus the cover art looks shit with that "key card"-disclaimer plastered on the box.
Good points. I still haven't totally made up my mind about them yet.
 
I have to ask: why is it really such a big deal in the end? Is it because of data limitations of your internet, limited storage options, or something else? Most every game we buy today physically still requires multiple patches, and once the key cart/disc is downloaded they perform exactly like a physical game does in the end.
I'm not Mr Hyde Mr Hyde but one of the big issues for me personally is that despite Switch games needing internet for patching and whatnot, the data itself still remained on the cart. The same is still true for Mario Kart World (which is on a full game cartridge) - the digital version requires you to load 22.5 GB onto your Switch 2's internal storage. The cart I have had a patch, but it only takes up 200 MB of space on my system.

Games like Yazuka 0, Street Fighter VI, and Hitman take up 50 GB (or more) per game when loaded from a key card, and that eats at your internal memory or expensive SD Express storage. They're basically just making you pay for the storage yourself.
 
I'm not Mr Hyde Mr Hyde but one of the big issues for me personally is that despite Switch games needing internet for patching and whatnot, the data itself still remained on the cart. The same is still true for Mario Kart World (which is on a full game cartridge) - the digital version requires you to load 22.5 GB onto your Switch 2's internal storage. The cart I have had a patch, but it only takes up 200 MB of space on my system.

Games like Yazuka 0, Street Fighter VI, and Hitman take up 50 GB (or more) per game when loaded from a key card, and that eats at your internal memory or expensive SD Express storage. They're basically just making you pay for the storage yourself.
In that regard they're a lot like Blu ray discs that force you to install data. Yep, trying to stay "physical" is becoming an exercise in futility...
 
Not entirelly sure about this approach, as it doesn't actually sounds softer on the price department for the consumer(it might be for developer). Im not even sure its legal in all countries, might get some complications later on.
 
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Ngl, this effort to choke the life out of the physical medium by these mega corporations is disgusting. Its like a slow strangulation through set incentives by these platform holders themselves for developers to avoid it and push people towards digital. I hope some kind of "vinyl"-ish movement will eventually spring out of this, with some small manufacturers popping up to keep on catering to a smaller niche and print full games on disc/chips.
 
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In that regard they're a lot like Blu ray discs that force you to install data. Yep, trying to stay "physical" is becoming an exercise in futility...
It's basically the same thing PS5 and Xbox owners have been dealing with since day one where every single game takes up hdd space.

Except Nintendo actually has a physical medium that can be loaded directly from it. The problem is most publishers seem to be completely opting out of that option.
 
So is a game key card basically the equivalent of something like a hardware 2FA key like a Yubikey, except that it unlocks your game to be able to play it, instead of your system?
 
This game key card situation is really looking rather bleak. The launch lineup alone was enough to top out the system storage, and most of the 256gb memory card I have. I bought a lot of the game key card games because I was hyped at the launch, but I think going forward, I'm not going to give them the money anymore.

If this continues, the Switch 2 is gonna become just a better way to play my Switch 1 games.

Seriously, collector's edition with a game key card..."collectors" don't want their "collector's edition" to have be tied to download, how stupid can these companies get?
 
In the announcement said it coming for Switch 2 but it seems that version doesn't exist yet?

I can only find PS5 and original Switch version and cant even find it for in Eshop.
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I can't seem to find the Switch 2 version listed anymore on SE's EU store, but it's still up on the Japanese store and it's just a code in the box as expected.


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I can't seem to find the Switch 2 version listed anymore on SE's EU store, but it's still up on the Japanese store and it's just a code in the box as expected.


NmTAL43.jpeg
This isn't even a game key card. It's a code in a box :messenger_tears_of_joy:
 
This isn't on Nintendo, though, it's the third party's options for saving money. Seems this is the only way to keep from everything being digital only.
It is partly on Nintendo too. Switch 1 game cards came in lots of different sizes, smaller games could use smaller disk size cards to save money.

Switch 2 cards are either 64 GB or game key cards.
 
Collectors editions that don't actually contain the game are the dumbest recent thing to happen. Never ever would I spend any money on something like that.
 
So is a game key card basically the equivalent of something like a hardware 2FA key like a Yubikey, except that it unlocks your game to be able to play it, instead of your system?
Basically yeah. If you try to insert a used Game Key Card between consoles, Nintendo makes you authenticate it, and it is deactivated on the other console. What happens when Nintendo no longer supports the servers? You will never been able to authenticate these cards. Just really strong DRM. Illusion of ownership.
 
The game key cards absolutely deserve to fail. But I can't be too mad at NIS, because it's Disgaea 7 with exclusive content (at least I think it is), and I'm glad they put the effort into making the Switch 2 version interesting.

Digitally, at least.
It's not, the additional content was already available on every other platform in Japan. There's zero effort put into this.
 
I think the quick adoption rate will slow down a good bit once the loyal customers and hype has had a chance to settle. I imagine a fair amount of people like me who own a Switch are still on the fence about getting one. Nintendo doing what they're famous for is par for the course, but I believe it could hurt some this gen. For example attach rates will be far lower with customers getting far fewer games per year, and a slower buy-in into their ecosystem hardware-wise.

Yeah the launch was great, but we've been getting hyped up by rumors for years while the already weak hardware was quite long in the tooth. And tying the games to proprietary media is often detrimental to price and adoption. I actually don't care too much about the final price of a game, as long as its on the cart. The amount of movies and shows I buy each month has far exceeded my game purchases and come with sooooooooo much more. Excellent packaging, full-color booklets and posters, reversible covers, extra discs with lots of new content etc. I wish game publishers and console manufacturers cared about the medium more. All the boutique film labels put the videogame industry to shame.
 
It's not, the additional content was already available on every other platform in Japan. There's zero effort put into this.

Is that right? The press release for the S2 version said:

In addition to the base game and all previously-released DLC, this edition comes packed with brand new features and content.
 
Surprised more people aren't talking about this to be fair. The vast majority of third party support the Switch 2 has received so far are on Game Key Cards. Physical sales will tank, digital sales will rise, and the next Nintendo console will be digital only. It's only a matter of time.

Just consider the Switch 2 a digital console with physical backwards compatibility to ease the pain now.
This pretty much.
 
Huh... the more you know.

Thanks for the context.
This Gematsu article explains the deal with it:
Disgaea 7 Complete—which includes the base game plus all existing downloadable content and bonus items, as well a new bonus story, new character, and new post-game elements—first launched for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch on July 25, 2024 in Japan under the title Disgaea 7: Koremade no Zenbu Iri Hajemamashita.

In Japan, the new gameplay elements were available a free update to the base Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless game, and the new story content and character were available as 550 yen downloadable content. NIS America did not announce plans to release the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch versions in the west, nor any plans to release the free update or downloadable content.
 
Why don't they put the game on the cart and charge more? One of the biggest supposed benefits of digital back when it started was that digital games would be cheaper because they don't have to pay the costs associated with physical releases.

I have to ask: why is it really such a big deal in the end? Is it because of data limitations of your internet, limited storage options, or something else? Most every game we buy today physically still requires multiple patches, and once the key cart/disc is downloaded they perform exactly like a physical game does in the end.

Will these key carts still work in 20 years? 30 years?
I still play games on my Saturn, SFC, etc that released 30 years ago (or more) and they work fine.
 
Why don't they put the game on the cart and charge more? One of the biggest supposed benefits of digital back when it started was that digital games would be cheaper because they don't have to pay the costs associated with physical releases.
Because the costs in distribution and production of these carts simply aren't worth investing in to publishers. So they'll save money and it will be a minority that will be affected by the decision - the reality is, most gamers don't give a shit about physical media.
 
Because the costs in distribution and production of these carts simply aren't worth investing in to publishers. So they'll save money and it will be a minority that will be affected by the decision - the reality is, most gamers don't give a shit about physical media.
The thing is, that's the case for actual mainstream stuff. Niche otaku shit like Disgaea? Completely alienating your target audience.
 
I get why publishers want these key-cards but using them for collector's editions is ridiculous. Maybe publishers should take the LRG route and do a limited-time preorder before ordering the cards from Nintendo. Not a great solution but better than key-cards.

It is partly on Nintendo too. Switch 1 game cards came in lots of different sizes, smaller games could use smaller disk size cards to save money.

Switch 2 cards are either 64 GB or game key cards.

I think there must be a technical or supply-related reason why 64GB is the minimum or Nintendo themselves would be using theoretically cheaper 16GB and 32GB cards. MKW is only 22GB and it's Nintendo's largest game ever in terms of file size.
 
The thing is, that's the case for actual mainstream stuff. Niche otaku shit like Disgaea? Completely alienating your target audience.
That's a very sharp observation. You might be right.
 
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Key cart is still 10x better than digital store.
It's not tied to an account.
It's available at retail (various pricing)
Can be offline after download. Not sure since I don't have a switch
 
Because the costs in distribution and production of these carts simply aren't worth investing in to publishers. So they'll save money and it will be a minority that will be affected by the decision - the reality is, most gamers don't give a shit about physical media.
I think for something niche like Disgaea they do care though, especially with a collectors edition. Or maybe nobody cares about Disgaea anyway and that's why it isn't selling.
 
Key cart is still 10x better than digital store.
It's not tied to an account.
It's available at retail (various pricing)
Can be offline after download. Not sure since I don't have a switch
I agree, and it's the sacrifice physical game fans will end up having to make, or just go digital.
 
That's what many companies deserve for using such mediocre tactics.

I feel so sorry for NIS, which I've always supported in some of their games.
 
On the game key cards, is it a one time use when you insert the cart and download, or can that cart be sold and whoever holds the cart have access to the license?
 
I think for something niche like Disgaea they do care though, especially with a collectors edition. Or maybe nobody cares about Disgaea anyway and that's why it isn't selling.
Maybe there is a strong correlation between niche games and hardcore audiences supporting physical releases, But if fans are given the choice between a niche game existing only in digital form or not existing at all, most fans will still support the digital version. Profit margins are thin for games like this anyway, and physical stock tends to be low for a reason (not specific to Disgaea 7, but NIS releases in general).
 
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