Topic: Game Key Cards... What is the point?

@Zuljaras Your trying to be a revisionist to what Nintendo FAQ says. This correcting the record. You refuse to contact them or acknowledge what the Nintendo FAQ says and when ask why you deflect the question to price because they are greedy. You think Xbox and PlayStation aren't doing this either?

Your "Code-in-Box" is already tied to your Nintendo account it has the License in your account. Without that "License" and TOS you agree to for getting the "Code-in-Box" game you have no game to play. The "Key-Card" is the License as clearly stated on the Nintendo FAQ page. That is needed slotted every-time you play the game. What was missed there?

@Jester676 Everyone that is doing it is greedy. And I said publishers not Nintendo. They are releasing their 1st party games all on the cartridge.

Are you using some kind of translator or AI to write the text for you? It is hard to understand, and you repeat things that have nothing to do with the conversation.

How many times do I have to tell you that downloading the game is not the only step you have to do in order to play with your key-cart?

1. I do not care about code-in-box so stop repeating that. It has nothing to do with key-carts ok?

2. I was telling you 100000 times that after the download you have to be connected to the internet the first time you start the game with your key-cart. That is clearly stated in their FAQ.

That little extra step with the starting up the game verification is what is NOT ok with me. I already have downloaded the game with the key-cart why verify even further with their servers?

The normal physical releases do not have that with the exception of Bloodstained Ritual of the Night for the Switch 1. There you must have a linked Nintendo account on the system to start the game otherwise you can't play.

With that exception the rest of my 260 physical Switch games can be played without ANY internet connection ever!

Again your giving Misinformation again. You clearly didn't read what Nintendo said. Name calling is one reason people use when they won't correct the misinformation they are saying.

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-Switch-2/Nin...

Again where in the Nintendo FAQ says you have to every-time Verify the game with the "Key-Card" besides the first time to download the game. You need the "Key-Card" inserted to play "Key-Card" games. The "Key-Card" contains the "License" to play the game. Nintendo FAQ clearly says that.

Read #3 again.
Step 3: Play the game.
Once the game is downloaded, you’re ready to play!
An internet connection is only required when you launch the game for the first time. After this, the game can be started even without an internet connection.
>>>However, like regular physical software, the game-key card must be inserted into the console in order to play the game.<<<<
If you insert a game-key card into another Nintendo Switch 2, the game can also be played on that console by following the above steps.

What are you talking about. I've transfered my microsd save data to another bigger microSD card and played without issues. Resetting Switch will also force "Code-in-Box" game to redownload as well. So you contradicted yourself in your own words.

Oh there's plenty look at Youtube and there are those pointing out the misinformation that is being said.

Here's #2 and #3
Explain why you don't understand what Nintendo clearly says about the "Key-Card" instructions?

Step 2: Download the game.
The game itself isn't included on the game-key card, so you’ll have to download it before you can play.
When you insert the game-key card, further instructions will be displayed on the HOME Menu. Please follow the instructions and download the game.
Step 3: Play the game.
Once the game is downloaded, you’re ready to play!
An internet connection is only required when you launch the game for the first time. After this, the game can be started even without an internet connection. However, like regular physical software, the game-key card must be inserted into the console in order to play the game.
If you insert a game-key card into another Nintendo Switch 2, the game can also be played on that console by following the above steps.

@Jester676 "An internet connection is only required when you launch the game for the first time."

There you go. END of story.

Do you understand what this means?

@Zuljaras That's for you to understand.

@Jester676 Wow ... I sure will understand.

I have sent an email to Nintendo to clarify my suspicions.

"shakes head"....

In my opinion, Key Carts are the best solution to an imperfect situation. Whereas currently used methods such as a code on a box, or an eShop digital only game are single use items which are tied to your account, the Key Cart at least gives you a modicum of ownership over the licence you have purchased to access a game.

They give you the opportunity to loan/donate/sell/buy/exchange the game licence you have purchased.
Is it perfect? God no, we would all rather have carts with a bare minimum of a playable game on them. But with Switch 2 cartridges topping out at 64GB (currently at least), there will, without doubt some games that are simply too large to be contained in a playable state on a cartridge.
Those games are going to be download only, there’s currently no way around that limitation. With the introduction of Key Carts, it’s giving publishers a low cost way to provide their customers with a better degree of control, ownership and flexibility that hasn’t existed on the Switch thus far.

I don’t doubt there will be some publishers cough Ubisoft cough who will almost certainly use Key Carts regardless of the size of the game simply to save money, assuming those types don’t just stick to the even cheaper option of a code in a box.

For those publishers, they can sook ma root, I will, as I always have, vote with my wallet and refuse to purchase the game. Even if that means I run the risk of missing out on games I’d like to try.
But for the ones who offer them up as an option for their products which exceed the maximum capacity of a cartridge, then I’m happy enough to purchase them, it gives me more options than a simple digital purchase and download.

Fundamentally, I would say the main advantage of physical for a consumer is that you can sell it and the main advantage of digital is that it is a little easier to use and not lose (at least in the medium term). So Game Key Cards still satisfy the biggest advantage.

For publishers, although they might save money on cheaper discs, Game Key Cards still satisfy both major advantages and disadvantages of physical — on the one hand being in a store is good advertisement for both the game and the console, but on the other hand the store takes a hefty chunk (often 30%) of the profits. If physical games didn't exist, one could imagine that $80 Nintendo price tag being only $56 (I'm sure that's not what would happen in practice but it would be consistent). Granted, that distinction is mainly for first party games since third parties lose an e.g. 30% cut to either the physical store or the digital storefront so if you're a third party publisher Game Key Cards seem like win-win.

@Jester676
Not sure why the massive quoting of me there is for. I agree with you. The Key Cards are a physical licence key attached to a digital copy. So publishers get the advantage of a cheaper distribution method and retail shelf space and you get a physical item you can put on your shelf, sell or trade

Of course there were always going to be some people complaining about this. There are already people who complain about developers releasing free DLC years later or patching out bugs post release. These people are never going to be happy, they have it in their heads that games should release in a "final" state. It's insufferable nonsense

But for most people, for the people who mostly just dislike digital copies for pure functional reasons. Specifically the inability to trade them in or lend them. Both the key-cards and also the digital card system are welcome improvements IMO. Certainly better than codes in the box and setting primary consoles for you account

@skywake I wish they would get the 64g cart and we pay for it "Full Game". But hopefully it's not shovelware full cart that would just burn. "Key-Card" is the next best thing as the "License Key" is on the cart. Games now days even if Full game I've seen you click update and there it goes updating the game. We can't get away from this "Day-one" updates anymore. And if "Key-Card" game stinks well no return but resell it and at least some comfort you don't have to see it again. I would like to have that option and not have "Code-in-Box" tied to my Nintendo account.

Physical vs Game Key

Physical = require very very few MB / GB size or none of data installation from the cartridge.
Take very very few space of internal / micro SD card storage.
Example case: FF XII TZA (take a few MB for Switch in physical but take 12.7 GB for digital, 41+ GB on PS4)

Game key = you must download the whole game with huge size and must insert the game key cartridge to simulate the actual physical cartridge. Take a lot of space of internal / micro SD storage

Physical game is still the KING !

@Anti-Matter This is why if I have to go "Key-Card", I will buy a extra exSD larger the better specifically to do this for on and leave my exSD for my game updates/DLC. That's swapping but alot better then wasting my precious exSD that is game update/DLC.

@FishyS @Stwert It is not going to be Ubisoft only as you can see even for smaller games, they will use this crap because it is cheap.

The thing they will use to their advantage is "but you can sell your copy now" and that is it. Like that will fix the download requirements, the SD requirement space or the server checks.

All of those liabilities are passed on to the consumer while the publishers do not have to worry about the risks of maximizing the profits.

But hey I can resell my crappy copy now! So awesome!

@Zuljaras You seem to have forgotten the point I made earlier that a lot of Switch players have spouses or kids or other family members who also play on the Switch. So the fact that everyone in the same household can play on the same key-card is also a genuine benefit when compared to digital-only games, where everyone would have to have their own digital copy connected to their account. If key-card games will be cheaper than regular physical games (this is admittedly still a big "if"), then it would be a big plus, especially for those households who can't afford to buy a lot of games at 70 - 80 euros per copy.

@Polvasti Yes and this is the only thing that is good about those kinds of releases.

I can't find any other plus about those releases.

Pros:

• You can share
• Resell

Cons:

• Takes place on your SD or internal memory
• Internet required to download and verify after that
• Servers go down and you own nothing

All of those extra costs are passed on to the buyer.

@Zuljaras

Oh, I know it won’t be just Ubisoft, just using them as an example, usually if there’s a scummy practice that can be done there’s a couple of companies that spring to mind, they’re usually one of them these days.

@Stwert They really disappointed me with their trio of horrible releases on the PS5. Outlaws, Avatar and Shadows all required connection to their servers to function. Until those came all of their games could be played from the installation without internet. They really deserve all that is happening to them.

@Zuljaras

Oh don’t get me started 🤣
I really want to try Outlaws, it looks pretty good, but there’s a big Ubisoft label on the box that’s preventing me from spending money on it.
Sometimes voting with your wallet is a pain in the butt 😂

@Stwert The biggest pains for me on the Switch (I refuse to purchase this crap) were:

1. Bioshock Collection
2. L.A. Noire
3. Hogwarts Legacy
4. Borderlands 3
5. Mortal Kombat 11