Having the title Switch 2 in the market is almost synonymous with the gamers assembling their physical games collection. Presentation; except for such an aberration-most publishers have slowly started releasing game key cards rather than actual physical cartridges. And curses from Common Whopping crowd? INDEED.
Here is precisely what Genki-the icon for anybody interested in gaming-showed while tweeting the real collection of their Switch 2 games: “we have steered clear of game key cards… well, most of them except maybe for the Final Fantasy VII Remake.”This tweet really stirred up a storm of discussion; with the players forming two camps: the ones that refuse to endorse key cards and those that simply want to play their favorite games in any format.
Just to throw in some middle-ground explanation for the players caught up in the confusion: key cards are simply “download codes” in a physical case. Game key cards do not actually include the game; they consist only of a paper slip with a code!”For collectors, whatever little value there is in actually having a game acts as a dealbreaker.”
Genki went on to say in a follow-up tweet: “The reason for this is cost! Switch 2 64GB game cards reportedly cost publishers in the vicinity of $15-plus to make, and if this is really the cost, it eats into their profit margins. Instead of giving players a complete physical copy, publishers have taken the cheaper route with key cards. But gamers literally aren’t buying it.”
Replies to Genki’s tweet exploded with zealous statements. Several, such as Uma Flame, would skip FF7 entirely if it’s a key card release. Some of those, like Chantal, said they’d be willing to pay extra for a full physical release. And then, the hardliners; players who could never be persuaded to support the key card idea in whatever capacity, with the likes of Chicon_81 encouraging others to “vote with your wallet.”
Some held out against the boycott. There’s Benva saying that he had played FF7 Remake on PlayStation already and wouldn’t be double dipping unless it’s a full physical release. Going one step further, DragonSuperMon stated that they would rather get a digital purchase than key cards. And then KaitosNightmare came up with some unexpected chaos by randomly stating, “Add Cyberpunk 2077, it’s fun,” as if it weren’t an entire separate debate waiting to happen.
The bigger question is, would the publishers ever listen? Since many players have refused to purchase key card releases, will publishers like Square Enix swallow their pride and start actually releasing full-physical editions for a little bit more money? Or will they keep pushing the cheaper option, hoping FOMO will do all the work for them?
For sure, the war of Switch 2 physical vs. digital releases is just beginning. And if these gamers keep bashing them, Lle might indeed shed some mercy. At least backpacks in angry tweets.
What do you think? Are you for “all physical or nothing,” or does it merely matter that you get to play the game, regardless of how it’s delivered? Either way, this hot debate isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And, additionally, probably a good thing: Once gamers shout, publishers have to listen.
Now, if I might be excused, I am going back to staring at my Switch 1 cartridges and pretending that they really aren’t becoming relics of a bygone era. What was I saying? Oh yes—physical forever. Or something like that.
