'Nintendo Is Going To Get Away With It': Former Ubisoft Dev Condemns Switch 2 Game Key Cards

A former Ubisoft developer has now spoken out against Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards, saying that he hates the practice. Several physical games for the console will release as "Game-Key Cards," which are essentially physical releases of digital games and act as an unlock key to download the game to the console, with very little, if any, of the game's data present on the physical cartridge. Fan reactions have been predominantly negative, but more developers and industry representatives are now voicing their thoughts on the practice.

In an interview with VideoGamer, former Assassin's Creed and Far Cry lead Alex Hutchinson stated that "Nintendo is going to get away with it," regarding the controversial Game-Key Card physical media release strategy, because of "nostalgia" towards long-time Nintendo products and characters. Hutchinson went on to create a hypothetical scenario in which he believes there would have been more outrage about the Game-Key Cards if Microsoft had made this decision instead of Nintendo.

Ex-Assassin's Creed Developer Has Strong Words On Switch 2

Nostalgia For Mario, Zelda, And More May Be Giving Nintendo "Permission" For Game-Key Cards

While the fan reaction to the Game-Key Cards has been mostly negative, it appears the Game-Key Card industry reactions are all over the place, but Hutchinson has cemented his stance with his comments in this interview. Hutchinson feels like the Switch 2 is moving away from the classic appeal of video games, such as trading games with friends, getting together with others and playing together, intense fan discussions, and more, saying: "I think it’s sort of lame. I don’t know, I just feel like it’s getting away… we’re losing some of what made the business special."

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Game Cards Work On Switch 1, According To Publisher

According to the publisher's Q&A page for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, the Switch 2 Edition game cartridges will also work on the Switch 1.

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Still, there are benefits to owning digital games, like not having to switch discs or cartridges and quickly switching between games, as well as the convenience of just purchasing and downloading a game whenever you want, as opposed to having to drive to a store and hope the game is in stock. Hutchinson's latest game, Revenge of the Savage Planet, will be released both physically and digitally on May 8 and features in a crossover with Dave the Diver.

Hutchinson's Opinion Echoes The Larger Gaming Community

Game-Key Cards Are Not Liked

Some figures in the industry have described the Game-Key Cards as an inevitable progression towards an all-digital future. Meanwhile, fans have been outspoken critics of the practice since the controversial Switch 2 reveal. Hutchinson's statements align more with the fans' opinions, but given that almost every third-party physical release in Japan is a Game-Key Card, it doesn't seem like Nintendo will change course. Paired with how well the Switch 2 seemed to sell when pre-orders went live, Hutchinson may be correct regarding Nintendo "getting away with it."

The Game-Key Cards, being one of the main distribution strategies for physical media, sparked a lot of fan outrage, and a lot of fans have claimed they will not purchase physical games that do not have the whole game on the cartridge. However, given the more "exclusive" nature of popular Nintendo products and characters, it seems like the Nintendo Switch 2 may still be quite successful, even with the Game-Key Card backlash.

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