Nintendo is gauging player opinion on Switch 2’s Game Key Cards in Japan
Nintendo wants to know how players feel about the controversial media
Nintendo is gauging player opinion on Switch 2’s controversial Game Key Cards in Japan.
Since Switch 2’s launch, Game Key Cards have attracted criticism from some for the fact that they contain no more than a digital activation key for game titles, rather than any game data.
The only difference between a Game Key Card title and a digital download is that the former can be resold and will work on other Switch 2 systems, without the need for Virtual Game Card lending.
So far, the vast majority of third-party Switch 2 games are Game-Key Cards, with only a few exceptions, reportedly because only one size of card is available to developers: 64GB.
Now, as reported by SwitchSoku, Nintendo has sent Japanese players a survey to gauge their awareness of the Game Key Card system, and if it affects the way they purchase games.
The survey first asks participants if they’re aware of Game Key Cards. It then follows this up by asking if the user is aware of the characteristics of Game Key Cards, such as their requirement for players to download game data, and that the card must be inserted in order to play.
Finally, the survey asks if the participant would rather purchase a Game Key Card or a digital download version of the same game. A full summary of the survey can be found below:
Did you know that Nintendo Switch 2 packaged software includes a game card called a “Game Key Card”?
- I own Game Key Card software
- I don’t own Game Key Card software but I know about it.
- I don’t know about Game Key Card software.
Do you know anything about the characteristics of the Game Key Cards? Please select all that you know.
- If you have downloaded the main game data, you can start playing without connecting to the internet.
- When playing the game for the first time, you will need to download the game data via the internet.
- Free space on the device’s internal memory or microSD Express card is required to download the main content.
- You can play the game on another console by downloading the game data and inserting the key card.
- You must insert the key card into the console to play the game.
- I never knew any of this.
After reading the above explanation, if you wanted to buy a piece of software and there was a Game Key Card or a download version available, which would you choose? Please choose the answer that applies.
- I want to buy Game Key Cards as much as possible.
- I would rather buy a Game Key Card.
- I can’t choose either.
- I would rather buy the download version.
- I want to buy the download version as much as possible.
Game preservationists have come out against the Game Key Card system, calling it “disheartening.”
Stephen Kick, CEO of Nightdive Studios (which specialises in modern remasters of older, often out-of-print games) told GamesIndustry.biz that “seeing Nintendo do this is a little disheartening”, adding: “You would hope that a company that big, that has such a storied history, would take preservation a little more seriously.”
Far Cry 4, Assassin’s Creed 3, and Revenge of the Savage Planet director Alex Hutchinson similarly criticized the Game Key Card system.
“I hate it,” said Hutchinson in an interview with VideoGamer. “I think it’s sort of lame. I don’t know, I just feel like it’s getting away… we’re losing some of what made the business special. Trading Game Boy cartridges at school, or, you know, DS for the modern audience. There’s something nice about that.
