So, like, physical media is kind of on its way out, you know? Been on the decline for years now. Ever since the internet made digital downloads a thing, the writing’s been on the wall. Nintendo jumped on the digital bandwagon with WiiWare and Virtual Console, but they’ve always had a soft spot for physical copies.
I mean, think about it. Cartridges have that chunky, substantial feel that discs just don’t have. Even when Nintendo switched to optical media with the GameCube and Wii U, they still managed to inject some personality into it. Carts just feel like more than a blank medium with data burned in, you know?
On the flip side, Xbox and PlayStation fans have been stuck with discs for physical games. And let’s not forget those massive downloads you need to supplement whatever’s on the disc. The PS5’s lightning-fast memory means everything has to be downloaded to the hard drive anyway.
Console games haven’t actually been running off discs for a while now. You still need the disc to unlock the license, though. So, Game-Key Cards are basically Nintendo playing catch-up with the competition. The whole game cards versus discs thing, especially with the Switch’s portability, makes it all feel kind of ridiculous. At least discs come with a bit of the game before you have to download a massive Day One patch.
For Nintendo, it’s all about having those boxed products on shelves during the holidays. Gotta keep the retailers happy, right? The whole fiasco with Switch 2 pre-orders is a mess, but it’s hard to see how Nintendo could do better without upsetting the retailers. And let’s be real, why would places like Best Buy or Target bother upgrading their websites when people are still willing to wait hours for a chance to buy the product?
Physical die-hards see going digital as waving the white flag. Tough spot to be in for a lot of folks.
Third-party publishers want their games in stores, too. It’s all about making it easy for grandma to pick up a game for little Tommy’s birthday. Most people buying the game won’t care if it’s just a license check in a cart. But the real question is, what size game carts is Nintendo offering for Switch 2? Reports say it’s up to 64GB, but that’s gonna cost a pretty penny for publishers compared to the 8GB ones.
As for physical releases, Sega, Capcom, Konami, and others are all going the key-card route. Only Nintendo, CD Projekt, and Marvelous are sticking to actual game data on carts. People are up in arms online about this whole situation, especially with Limited Run’s ridiculous $250 Collector’s Editions with a game-key card and a bunch of extras.
A lot of us have made the switch to digital this generation. MicroSD cards fill up quick, but having your entire library at your fingertips is pretty sweet. Reselling game-key cards is a plus, but you gotta factor in the cost of extra memory.
Switch 2 only has 256GB of storage, minus the firmware. Hitman alone takes up 61GB, so you’re gonna need more space fast. Games like Call of Duty are gonna be even bigger, probably over 100GB. Constantly archiving and redownloading games isn’t for everyone.
But what other choice do you have besides these fake game carts? Going digital feels like admitting defeat for the die-hards. It’s a tough spot to be in, especially for those with spotty internet or those concerned about preservation.
It’s the way the industry’s been heading for a while now. Do players really care enough to fight it? Some say they do, but will they stick to their guns when the next big game drops?
The whole game-key card situation is a mess with no clear solution in sight. Even developers are feeling disheartened by it all.
So, what’s your take on game-key cards? Are they better than straight-up digital downloads? Better than those code-in-a-box deals for your shelf? Or do you even see them as a problem? Let us know in the comments.
