Japan Will Get Physical Boxes Of Smash Bros. Ultimate And Pokémon Let's Go With Digital Codes Inside

Crazy but clever

Well if you're going digital might as well get the box if that appeals to you since the price is the same anyways.

Isn't the e-shop price equal to the physical price? Free box!

Seems ridiculous to me. But each to their own.

Clever, but some of us want a cartridge not just the case

Ugh

I bought a Vita game that was just a code in a box. The cashier tried to up sell me with the two year replacement plan.

Digital games should be cheaper than physical due to less production costs. I’m not giving in to this all-digital push until price reflects costs.

That’s a novel idea. I’d be alright with this if it hit NA since I plan on getting digital.

@Bunkerneath You can still buy a physical cartridge.

Cartridge and case is fine with me but a full color manual included would be awesome too.

This is exactly the sort of thing no one minds if it doesn't leave Japan.

@Hikingguy do you mean like how movies sometimes have a digital copy included?

Not a new trend at all. It happened multiple times on the 3DS (Nintendo Pocket Football Club, Mario and Donkey Kong and Mario vs Donkey Kong Minis games, Mario vs Donkey Kong Tipping Stars-also an empty box with a code on the Wii U as well, Pokemon Gold and Silver) and the Wii U (Star Fox Guard as well as the Mario vs DK game mentioned before)

Edit: Just saw that the article mentions it might be a new trend for major releases (none of the above falls under that category). I'd say it's better than just selling plain download cards, which they have been doing for ages and you would just throw them away after redeeming the code.

Well if you were going digital, you could get it at a discount through best buy or Amazon.... And get the 3X points/ coins that Nintendo offers. BOOM beat the system..... I guess

Neat for people who want it. Me, I preordered my physical copy the day after Smash was initially teased. 😜

I thought the whole point was to have cartridges again?

@Hikingguy But then you can give one away. Which would be a problem.

Regardless if "production costs are lower if there's no physical cartridge inside," Nintendo never passes those savings on to the consumer. I still find it baffling that eShop games are still the same price as physical games. We should be seeing a notable difference in price because there's no manufacturing cost or distribution cost associated with those versions. And there's no 3rd party retailer vying for a piece of the profit, it's all going straight to Nintendo. We should be seeing at least a $10 difference between eShop and physical versions.

Digital codes ?
No thanks.
I want a REAL Switch Cartridge, Not a bunch of digital numbers.

@blockfight,

Agreed!

@Hikingguy That's also true. I found a copy of Crash Bandicoot Trilogy for $49.99 CDN at Best Buy when it was $56.99 CDN on the eShop. So I bought it physically. But that might have been for the E3 sale. But you are right, a lot of times the physical games are cheaper if you can take advantage of retail deals. But eShop games should be permanently cheaper with discount sales whenever Nintendo feels like running them.

@Hikingguy That's exactly what Microsoft offered when they announced X-Box one console with DRM and everyone hated it. That's also exactly the moment when they began to lose the battle against PS4, 6 month before the release of the consoles in the market.

@justin233 I would think that overall production costs have increased even if it’s a digital version due to cost of developers salaries and/or extras like voice acting. Going for digital releases may keep sales prices as the same rate as physical since they are skipping the added cost of manufacturing physical copies of the game. That’s what I would say if I were a developer company’s PR rep haha!

@DarthFoxMcCloud Sony and Microsoft don't do it, either. There's no business incentive for Nintendo to do it.
I'd guess that one of the reasons it's not done is that it would fracture marketspace between 1st Party digital shops and retailers. If the same product is going to be available on the eShop for 16% less than what the store must sell it at, the profit margin (typically $3-$7) for the retailer begins to erase and the retailer is less inclined to purchase inventory. This would be especially true for stores that use a product footprint (shelfspace) based on the percentage of product sold in a certain category.
Less inventory ordered means less inventory produced.

The debate "physical vs digital" is a huuuuge dilemna for me.
I still love physical games because I love to own a physical library. It's doesn't feel the same to look at games in shelves, than to look at a list of games on a screen. IT. SIMPLY. DOES. NOT.

But the switch is a console so suited to digital games... It's perfect !
I bought Bayonetta 1&2 in digital... I have regrets not to have the physical boxes. But it's still best suited this way.
But my shelves miss Bayonetta's boxes.

HHHAAAAA this Switch dilemna drives me crazy !

As for the idea of digital codes in boxes.. It would be the perfect solution. But I found it mad to have boxes without the game on a cartridge or disc. It doesn't make any sense.

They're not the first to do this sort of thing. I almost accidentally bought an empty steelbook tin for WipEout HD on PS4 because they were selling it separately for those who downloaded it. I initially thought it was the game for super cheap! A lot of kickstarters do this sort of thing with retro boxes for download games too.

But yeah it's cool for those who want this option

@Hikingguy The point is that you have the OPTION to though. There's also nothing preventing you from even letting a friend borrow it.

The only way that would work is to have some kind of online check in but we all know how that turned out when Microsoft wanted to so it.

I'd much sooner have a significantly smaller box with the cart in it.

@Anti-Matter Those 'digital numbers' are all that's on that 'real Switch cartridge' you know.

But yeah it is nice to have a tangible thing

@Hikingguy Yeah I'd like a physical copy that could also be treated as a digital copy. The issue in the past has been that theres a much more common second hand market than there is for film so I imagine companies were concerned people would get the digital code and then on sell the physical copy, getting them a huge saving on the cost of the game. Digital copies for films aren't always overly convenient either.

The fact we've seen the past few weeks that Nintendo has add individualised identifiers to all physical copies would however seem to make that viable in that they could invalidate the digital copy if the corresponding physical copy shows up on systems other than those as part of a family Nintendo Online sub. Might annoy people lending games, but presumably you could re-activate the download copy when the user gets the physical copy back and adds it to the console to verify.

I think it'd be a cool concept myself.

On the topic of getting a physical case with a download code. If its the same price I can see the appeal but its worth noting you can already buy empty cases for pretty cheap so if you really must do that and download some high res cover art and make up your own.

@Hikingguy Same. Happy to lose access to my digital copy if someone else is using the physical. No different to what we have today anyway in that respect (cant play a physical game yourself if you loaned it), and I think it would help prevent publishers being too heavily burnt. Would be great though to be able to travel without taking the carts.

My initial reaction to this was simply - no - b/c of the cost, but on further thought for a game like SSBU it makes sense if Amazon allows the 20% discount on the empty box. Best of all worlds - display box, game always available, Prime 20% discount.

The downside of this would of course be if you were a 2 or 3 Switch household then the code could be a problem, might be better w/ the cart.

I still need to research how that new Pokeplus ball works, if it's locked to 1 cop of the game or the account or if it can be shared. I'm guessing it's not shareable.

This would be nice in the US who wants digital and Amazon discounts

Collecting what exactly?

Without the cartridge, what the hell's the point of the box at all?

Absolute stupidity.

I suppose it's the nice thing to offer those who prefer digital, but like to have the boxes on display.

Nintendoes what Microsoft was skewered for trying. sigh

@Hikingguy Considering Switch games have serial numbers they can see on their end tied to cartridges, Switch is actually the only console that could actually enable that without piracy issues! Who knows, if they enable that with NO I will love Nintendo's online forever

@smashboy2000 What Hikingguy suggested isn't quite what MS tried (this is actually more what MS tried.) Hikingguy wants BOTH a physical disc to retain and keep and play forever, and the ability to install the content of that media locally and play without the media inserted like digital. MS's idea was that the disc was just an unlock key like these empty boxes, that contained part of the download on the disc to spare you some download time. But after you entered the key, it was 100% identical to an MS Store purchase and the disc was now a valueless piece of lacquer, and to re-use the lacquer you'd have to buy a $30 unlock key from the MS Store to use it again. I.E. the same as the empty box with a paper code, but with a download booster and a "feature" to buy a second copy at a discount. Not quite the same as having the disc and digital copy. Sony planned the same identical system, but changed it after it failed so catastrophically for MS before their show.

Problem is CDs can't be locked to the account, as a temporary digital key. You could use the same disc on 30 consoles and they'd never know other than the paper code. Switch, with the serialized key built into the cart actually could allow the cart to be "unlocked" as it currently is, or "lock" it by tying it's ID to an account since it has a unique serial. So it's actually possible such a thing could be made to exist on Switch, unlike the other two.

i'm actually very jelly of this

Physical over digital all day everyday. Once gaming becomes and all digital/streaming service I'll be done with it and stick to all the consoles I already own.

The way I see it, Odin buying to collect, I won't buy it digitally with a physical box. Defeats the purpose for me.

@Hikingguy @Smigit I don't think a mandatory digital check should be required for physical users since that defeats the point of physical for many (and that's what got Don Mattrick in hot water with his "It's 2014, deal with it." arrogance.)

HOWEVER, the worst case situation is that each cartridge could be used on two machines simultaneously. The one that has the cart in possession, and the one logged into the account for a digital copy. It could not be used on more than two, because there's only one physical cart, and the serial would be checked on the backend to match only one account registered for digital use of the serial.

2 copies playable for retail price is actually how X1 and PS4 already do digital. Anyone on your "primary" system can play all your games. And you can also play all your games on any system you log into. So a total of two machines can simultaneously play one digitally purchased game. (MS sells that as a feature of XBL, "Home XBox". Sony doesn't advertise it, it just works.) So actually the physical/digital sharing would just be a "very NIntendo" way of doing what Sony and MS already do by taking Sony and MS's digital poicy and doing the same thing with a physical/digital policy, that only their hardware can do.

Sure you could take a digital key and sell your physical copy...but then physical buyers don't get a digital copy at all (or could buy one for $30.................)

Edit: And how do you make up the money gap? Subscriptions!

PLEASE BRING THIS TO EUROPE! I love Switch boxes on my shelf, but way prefer having the game on my system memory!

I actually like this. I’m going all digital with my Switch (and my kids are too). Would be nice when I get them a game to be able to hand them a physical present to open but then still have the convenience of a digital copy. Great for box collectors as well

Nintendo is preparing the future... and not in a good way...

It seems to be the end for me after the Switch life because I can sense what they're trying to do and for my sensitive nose, it doesn't smells good... sadly... :/

I'm honestly surprised it took this long. More options is never a bad thing, and I'm sure there are plenty of people that would appreciate this choice for other games

Can't say I think its very smart... Personaly I will stick with carts.

Another thing I just noticed, if the Japanese name of the next Smash game is Special, why is it Ultimate in the English version? Why not just keep it as 'Super Smash bros. Special!'

@Medic_alert Yes, price is def the biggest obstacle. Not getting the 20% pre-order bonus on digital games like you do for physical on Amazon hurts. I usually try to wait for eShop sales or discounts on eShop cards on eBay to help make up for it. I only have a 200GB card & it’s filling up much quicker than expected. I may need to go to 400GB like you. Really love being able to just grab my Switch and know I have my full library of games with me at all times.

@NEStalgia yeah I’d prefer no checks, just pointing out there is a mechanism there. It’s doable and it doesn’t need to be as invasive as those proposed by the original Xbox One launch.

If they did have some digital + physical scheme, even if they locked it down, I’d even be happy to pay say $10 more for the digital code post sale I reckon. Make it redeemable when the carts in.

You’re right in that other consoles don’t function that way and do support an account to be in multiple systems, but at the same token that applies to digital copies only that you can’t then sell so they’re still somewhat locked to a single user/account. I think publishers would be pretty concerned about a system that allowed a single purchase to be split into two without any major impact on the ability to access or restrictions on resale.

@EeryPetrol Not really, in the US at least physical purchases incur taxation while digital purchases do not. In addition there is also typically shipping fees involved with a physical item.

@WaveBoy Even better: They should just sell the empty cases for 5€. That way you can have an extensive collection without even paying for the games! Most collectors wouldn't notice anyway because they never open their games. They loose value if you remove the shrink wrap after all!!

I would buy the cartridge one. The idea of downloading is fine but I like holding the cart in my hand. Having extra goodies inside helps me make my decision like a map or instruction booklet.

@tobibra

Because europeans and americans are just morons and japanese people know that...
So, now imagine that we put 2 products on the market. These products are the same, the only difference is the name :

One is called : Whatevathingy special!
The other one : Whatevathingy ULTIMATEEEEEE

I can bet that the ULTIMATE version sells really better just because we are dumb here... just watch some TV_shows. You know when they make you believe that THIS IS THE STUFF TO HAVE ! Millions of people order a thing that they don't even need...

So it's really a commercial decision based on perception of eastern and western mentalities...

I have been saying for a while that in this transition we are making to Digital I want them to still go physical with some item that you can go buy to add to your collection and get a code that gives you the game digitally.

Now I have been thinking, a small statue like amiibo type thing or other small things to display.

I must admit, selling a case with a code is the simplest form of this and I never thought of that at all. lol

I really hope people are gonna start to think, PLEASE WAKE UP PEOPLE !

Do not accept these kind of things, NEVER !
They just want only 1 thing in the future :

• TO KILL PRE-OWNED MARKET.

They don't want you to pay your games at a better price.
They don't want you to sell your games anymore
They don't want you to go to your friends with your games

They want to be in total control from the creation of a game until the distribution and because it's never enough, your games won't be sold in any store in the end...

Think about the Millions persons in the world loosing their jobs one by one... that's crazy !

PLEASE FIGHT FOR PHYSICAL !

@justin233 I totally agree, if part of the reason Switch games cost what they do is due to expensive cartridges, why is the digital version just as expensive?

And that’s based on the RRP, if stores have sales, digital is more expensive than the version with the oh-so-costly cartridge.

@Cobalt I totally get where you are coming from, there was a time when people said they would never buy games on steam. They were ticked it was going to even be a thing.
You don't own anything when you buy it digitally.
Yet here we are, years later and you still don't but steam is a norm.
And even then, I may not own those games, but I still have and can play all of them. So there is that.

Streaming games is the future regardless if we want it or not. I am hoping that in that future I can still buy a physical product and get access to that game.
People see streaming as a service like PSNow and such, but in the future I don't think it will be like this.
I think your xbox live sub, or your playstation plus sub and the like will cover streaming. You buy a game digitally you have access to that game digitally via download or if you like you can just stream it.

I think that is what the next console generation will look like, a sort of hybrid of the past and the future.
I think Microsoft and probably Sony as well are going to announce very traditional Consoles, full of power and a slot for physical disk games, but I think they will also announce next to these a cheaper device, not unlike a Switch but something that doesn't need to be powerful. Something that can just accept streaming.

If they do, what will happen is, even those that say, they want the console at home will get that experience, but then a bit down the line they will go, hm, for 150 bucks, I can play my entire library on the go, I think I will grab that little screen. (Or more likely, just say, hm, I can connect my xbox/ps controller to my phone and play these games anywhere, then find out how cool that is and want to buy the awesome bigger screen that the companies sell.)

I would bet money with a device like that some people would just buy the cheaper streaming device and never buy the more expensive console.

THey have been trying to figure out hardware for a future where streaming was a thing for a while. Playstation move. Kinect. All these things were these companies trying to innovate yes, but they were also trying to figure out how to sell hardware to people in a time when games can be streamed to ANY screen.
And be of higher fidelity than we have ever known. Because when developers can take advantage of a server system and know exactly what they can milk out of it and knowing that the server can be super powerful, more so than what can be put in a home console because it would be to expensive.
Think of the games that could produce.
Games with full planets to explore. FULL planets. In fidelity unheard of.
And all you need is a screen and a device to control.

It is coming. I will miss these good old days to.
I think the pros do outweigh the cons though.
Super powered games. Streamed anywhere, to any screen I desire.

EDIT: And it would alleviate one of my gripes with the Switch. It's power. I hear that in Japan Resident Evil 7 is being played on the switch via streaming. Without streaming you would not be able to play that on the switch in it's normal fidelity. You would get things like the Doom port or Wolfenstein. Which are great ports, but imagine if devs didn't have to port games to the Switch. They could just give you access to games via streaming.
Boom, the Switch becomes the only system you need and every game would come to it as it came to other consoles, day and date.

Anyways, in a future like that, I would certainly love the option to buy a physical item. Like Nintendo could make Amiibo the item. New mario comes out, buy this new Mario amiibo, it includes your code to unlock the new mario game on your account. I still get to collect the games I want, and have the convience of not having to swap media every time I want to play something else and don't have to carry those games with me. And would allow me to play even full console experiences on the go with not compromises.

Sorry so long winded. I am tired. lol

I’m surprised by the negativity to this. It’s not like they’re taking away your ability to buy a physical cartridge if you want it. More options isn’t a bad thing.

@Cobalt “Because europeans and americans are just morons and japanese people know that...”

Weren’t you the one who declared Europeans the smarter than the Japanese and Americans because Europeans spent less on Pokémon Go?

EDIT: I found the quote. Here’s what you said:

“The graph shows something really interesting.
Europeans are globaly smarter than the rest of the world... LOL”

Well that's a steaming load! Poor Japan. shakes head in disgust Please Nintendo, don't follow Capcom on annoying decisions like this.

@FlimFlam

Absolutely !

By if you know HOW TO READ, there is a LOL at the end...
Dunno, but MAYBE, it was put in a joke way, isn't it ?

The LOL shows that the sentence was sarcastic manner of speaking...

Now, about Smash, if you read in between the lines, you'll get that I meant that is japanese people that see us as morons not me who say that...

But whatever...

@Cobalt I know how to read, thanks. You went on and on about how Europeans and Americans were stupid because they are affected by marketing. As if they don’t market in Japan. Heck, you don’t even know who made the name change. For all we know, NOA was the one who made the call.

Also, reading over your comment again, I can’t help but take issue with your use of the r word. It’s a medical condition, and it’s offensive when you use it to describe people who do not have said condition. Please refrain from using it in the future.

@FlimFlam

Can you explain to me "the r word" please ?

@Cobalt You said the r word here:

“Millions of people order a thing that they don't even need...”

@FlimFlam

Oww ok, now I get it... Thank you for the clarification.

@Cobalt And thank you for understanding. Sorry if I sounded a little harsh earlier. I don't agree with your perspective, but I probably could have chosen my words better.

Also, regarding this:

"So it's really a commercial decision based on perception of eastern and western mentalities..."

I don't think it's fair to make this an East vs. West thing. Maybe it would be better if we just said that it's a matter of changing marketing to appeal to different audiences?

@FlimFlam

Don't worry man, it's cool that you say that to me...

I have a small level in English so I do with what I have.
I know that it could be better by practicing more but it's impossible for me so I'm grateful when a guy take the time to explain to me things like : "this you cannot say, that you might change into..."

Thanx a lot.

They have been doing this for years on the 3ds. Personally I think you would have to be a idiot to want to get a physical box for a digital game at the same price you could get a physical game in the box

Nintendo passing the buck to the consumer.

About as eco-friendly as punching a dolphin in the face...

Good job Nintendo 😞

Cartridge, box and MANUAL for me please. Keep your one's and zero's