Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your “key” to downloading the full game to your system via the internet.
Pay a premium for a physical copy of your game, and the cartridge may not contain the actual game. Only on Nintendo Switch 2.
Not that I agree with it, but isn’t this what other consoles have done for about a decade already?
Physical media for games is on its deathbed.
Yes/No. Both Sony and Microsoft have quality control processes to ensure that whatever is published is going to play on first entry of the disc.
That said, publishers use A LOT of workarounds. Day 1 patches to “finish” the game. Download code inserts. And as of recent, mandatory online server check-ins. As far as I’m aware, Nintendo is the only one who allows publishing half the product with required download.
Seems so. Notably, Switch 1 already has games with a similar warning on the box.
They’re just giving a name to it.
On one hand, I’m glad they’re up front about it (and I’d rather see an even uglier, larger warning on the cover for game key cards). On the other, I hope this isn’t a sign that they’re legitimizing it or that it’ll be more common.