Following the Switch 2 Direct last week, Nintendo updated its official website to reveal a new type of cartridge it will be producing for certain Switch 2 titles. Dubbed the “game-key card,” it basically is a key to unlocking a downloadable version of the game, with the card acting as nothing more than… well, a key. You’d then need to keep the card inserted into your console to play, acting similarly to how physical games do. Many were confused about the specifics, such as whether or not these game-key cards would be account locked or not, but there is some good news today.
Nintendo has confirmed to GameSpot that game-key cards will not be locked to your console or Nintendo account.
When questioned about the specifics of the game-key card format, Nintendo’s Tetsuya Saski told GameSpot, “So key cards will start up on the console or system that it is slotted into, so it’s not tied to an account or anything.” The fear was that these confusing bits of plastic would lock to the console they were first played on, dropping their resale value and rendering the digital download kind of useless without the cart. Instead, these now present an interesting proposition as they will be the first type of digital games that can be resold.
Players who are still wary will need to be diligent when grabbing physical copies of Switch 2 games. Any title that is sold on a game-key card will have an additional white banner at the bottom of its game case that indicates it will require a download. Maybe it’s not ideal for preservation, but this type of cartridge is honestly better than a single-use download code.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
