The fan reactions to the Game-Key Cards are essentially physical versions of digital games, raising concerns about game preservation if servers are ever taken offline and the internet requirement to even access the game being purchased.

In a report from GamesIndustry.Biz, the reactions to the Switch 2 game-key cards are all over the place. Some feel it is a necessity and are surprised it hasn't happened sooner, while others, like CEO of Nightdive Studios (which specializes in remastering older games) Stephen Kick, calling Nintendo's move "disheartening" for game preservation (via VGC). Kick continued, saying: “You would hope that a company that big, with such a storied history, would take preservation a little more seriously.”

Video Game Heritage Society & More React To Switch 2 Game Cards

Patches Change A Lot, But A Lot Of People Want At Least A Sense Of Ownership

The Video Game Heritage Society is a group that specializes in digital game preservation, and co-founder James Newman is not convinced Game-Key Cards will make much of a difference, since it's rare for a game on a cartridge or disc to still be the same months or years after release. Newman stated that "games are so often patched, updated and expanded through s that the cart very often loses its connection to the game, and functions more like a physical copy protection dongle for a digital object."

Others are looking at game preservation as a whole and are predicting an entirely digital future. Paul Dyson, director of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum in New York, said that an all-digital future is "inevitable" and Nintendo is actually the slowest major console producer to head towards more digital distribution strategies. We've seen both PlayStation and Xbox release digital-only versions of their major consoles, while there is only one version of the Switch 2, and it will physical media.

Our Take: The Mixed Reactions Make Sense

Both Physical & Digital Media Have Advantages & Disadvantages

While there is a lot of controversy surrounding Nintendo's decision to use Game-Key Cards for some games instead of completely physical cartridges, there are pros and cons for both physical and digital media, which has led to a pretty extensive debate. Digital distribution methods allow some services to exist, like the popular Xbox Game and PlayStation Plus. And getting a Game-Key Card might be somewhat better than just getting a digital code in a box, like the Switch 2 version of Split Fiction that will only provide the latter.

On the other hand, a lot of players like to feel they own the product they are paying for and are not "renting" it for an extended time. Game-Key Cards can still be sold at retail and traded easily with friends, but if the servers were to ever go down or a player were to lose their internet connection, the game might be rendered unplayable. Almost every third-party Switch 2 release in Japan is a Game-Key Card, so it appears the Game Key-Cards may end up being the primary method of physical game distribution for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Source: GamesIndustry.Biz, VGC