Why do they even exist

[Ondrashek06]

And by "them", I mean the stupid game keys.

At first, I thought that they were a good thing as they would end the predatory "CDKey-in-a-box" releases and make those games transferable/sellable (as long as the CDN is up).

However, that still doesn't seem to be the case. There are already pictures of Switch 2 releases that are just a CDKey slip in a box.

In addition, games that would usually be on a normal cartridge (small, <32GB games) are now using the keycards instead.

I just don't get it at this point. Why do these game keys even exist at all when we're still getting CDKeys in boxes?

 

[MasterJ360]

Nintendo doesn't want to outright say it, but all of this mess they setup is to make piracy /emulation difficult.
They are so afraid of physical games getting dumped by devices like the Mig Switch.

 

[Marc_LFD]

Apparently, there's three models of physical releases for publishers:
1) 64GB Card
2) Game Key Card
3) Code in Box

And the game covers/cases look pretty ugly almost all in red whereas NS1 covers had a lot more room to breathe inspiration and creativity.

Nintendo doesn't want to outright say it, but all of this mess they setup is to make piracy /emulation difficult.
They are so afraid of physical games getting dumped by devices like the Mig Switch.

If anything, it pushes and incentivizes me to wait and pirate the console when the time comes.

For the mean time, I've been buying a bunch of NS1 games and pre-ordered Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town from Amazon.



This mess that Nintendo has created has potentially increased the interest for the original Switch game releases as they actually contain the games whereas NS2 don't (unless very specific 3rd parties and Nintendo exclusives).

 

[ut2k4master]

Nintendo doesn't want to outright say it, but all of this mess they setup is to make piracy /emulation difficult.
They are so afraid of physical games getting dumped by devices like the Mig Switch.

they are so "afraid" that they are putting their own games, the ones people are interested in and that are pirated the most, on actual cards.
do you people even think sometimes?

 

[m00k00]

And by "them", I mean the stupid game keys.

At first, I thought that they were a good thing as they would end the predatory "CDKey-in-a-box" releases and make those games transferable/sellable (as long as the CDN is up).

However, that still doesn't seem to be the case. There are already pictures of Switch 2 releases that are just a CDKey slip in a box.

In addition, games that would usually be on a normal cartridge (small, <32GB games) are now using the keycards instead.

I just don't get it at this point. Why do these game keys even exist at all when we're still getting CDKeys in boxes?

Simple answer: they want to prevent (early) leaks due to dumped retail cartridges most likely

 

[yankii]

$$$

 

[Marc_LFD]

Simple answer: they want to prevent (early) leaks due to dumped retail cartridges most likely

The games people care the most on Switch 2 will be its exclusives, but it's unfortunate for third party physical releases as those empty carts will be useless in the future since they don't have the games.

Nintendo, Limited Run, and a few third party publishers are about all who'll make real physical releases.

 

[linuxares]

Money, it's that simple.

 

[Ondrashek06]

Money, it's that simple.

I get that it's money, but at that point, why even produce any cartridges at all? If they went full digital there would be no production/distribution costs for cartridges.

 

[ut2k4master]

I get that it's money, but at that point, why even produce any cartridges at all? If they went full digital there would be no production/distribution costs for cartridges.

retail presence

 

[Ondrashek06]

retail presence

That can be done with the "code in a box" thing like they're already doing.

 

[The Catboy]

The first reason

The second reason, piracy. Nintendo doesn’t want leaks to happen and they want to make piracy more difficult. Both can be done if you make shit like this

 

[linuxares]

I get that it's money, but at that point, why even produce any cartridges at all? If they went full digital there would be no production/distribution costs for cartridges.

Anti privacy method plus some games will fit on the cartridges.

 

[Reploid]

I think 'it' is more precise, not they/them

 

[l7777]

And by "them", I mean the stupid game keys.

At first, I thought that they were a good thing as they would end the predatory "CDKey-in-a-box" releases and make those games transferable/sellable (as long as the CDN is up).

However, that still doesn't seem to be the case. There are already pictures of Switch 2 releases that are just a CDKey slip in a box.

In addition, games that would usually be on a normal cartridge (small, <32GB games) are now using the keycards instead.

I just don't get it at this point. Why do these game keys even exist at all when we're still getting CDKeys in boxes?

They want to go all digital but don't want to just force it cold turkey. This will do it naturally as most consumers will realize that attaching games to an account is easier to manage than physical cartridges. I was a physical media hold out with the Switch until I got annoyed with having to track down the cartridge I wanted to play and swap it into the machine when I wanted to change games. Actually ended up selling the physical copies and re-purchasing digital ones for the convenience. Yes when Nintendo decides they no longer want to keep the eshop going the digital purchases will be gone. Fortunately most Switch games can be acquired in other ways for preservation. Time will tell how this goes for Switch 2 things.

 

[MasterJ360]

they are so "afraid" that they are putting their own games, the ones people are interested in and that are pirated the most, on actual cards.
do you people even think sometimes?

Well if you want to "think" outside of the box here. What makes you think that those game ready cards wont have their own DRM on them? That has been the talk ever since the Switch 2 was nothing but a rumor.

 

[ut2k4master]

Well if you want to "think" outside of the box here. What makes you think that those game ready cards wont have their own DRM on them? That has been the talk ever since the Switch 2 was nothing but a rumor.

so what youre saying is that they arent afraid after all because they have a strong drm on their cards anyway?
which one is it then? you people make no sense

 

[DiscostewSM]

Personally, I think it has to do with the actual carts utilizing 3D NAND. Instead of laying out a single layer of memory cells onto an expensive base material like 2D NAND does, 3D NAND structures it with stacking layers of memory cells on top of each other. This allows faster read speeds because each single stack of cells can be read at once rather than a single cell. It's cheaper because stacking the memory cells instead of spreading them out as one layer means much less of the expensive base material is used.

But the problem stems from the complex process to manufacture them, resulting in longer manufacturing times. Longer manufacturing times means less produced over a period of time. If they tried to spread out the production across multiple capacities, they'd run themselves thin, and result in shortages. Maybe for some, maybe for all. With game sizes getting increasingly big, both Nintendo and Macronix (the makers of the cart's memory modules) chose to go with the highest capacity they can currently produce; the 64GB capacity. The Game Key Cards, imo, were more for those games that did not need that capacity (practically anything from 32GB and under). The smaller sizes meant it wouldn't require as much space on internal/external storage, but the cards still had the benefit of what actual cards would have in terms of trading, selling, etc. Maybe in time, production speeds will increase, and they can then produce multiple capacities without much trouble, from the lower capacities like 32GB and 16GB, to going even higher with something like 128GB. I think Macronix is currently in the process to end their 2D NAND production in favor of 3D NOR, which can be made on the same infrastructure as 3D NAND. So they will certainly have more lines to work with.

Folks may feel that tying a card to a download would be problematic because of the possibility of servers being shut down to prevent downloading, but as of now, folks still have access to download their DSi and Wii purchases almost 2 decades later. I have doubts that their newest account system would be in any worse situation. The Game Key Cards do have an advantage over straight-up digital in that when they do shut down the ability purchase a digital game, the Game Key Cards can still be acquired through other means to then grab those downloads.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

And by "them", I mean the stupid game keys.

At first, I thought that they were a good thing as they would end the predatory "CDKey-in-a-box" releases and make those games transferable/sellable (as long as the CDN is up).

However, that still doesn't seem to be the case. There are already pictures of Switch 2 releases that are just a CDKey slip in a box.

In addition, games that would usually be on a normal cartridge (small, <32GB games) are now using the keycards instead.

I just don't get it at this point. Why do these game keys even exist at all when we're still getting CDKeys in boxes?

There is a logical answer but a shitty one.

Essentially Nintendo gets their chips from a company called Macronix. The Switch 2 cartridges use a more modern flash memory chip (the kind you'd see in SSDs) and well they've kinda backed themselves into a corner in the process. Since these chips are made for SSDs and such there isnt really any appeal for small sized flash memory chips of this type and they literally can't get chips smaller than 64GB anymore. Meaning they literally cannot provide Switch 2 game cartridges in small sizes anymore so they essentially backed themselves in a corner with no easy escape. It doesn't help that those 64GB cartridges cost ~$15 each. Not only are a multitude of games way over 64GB but very very few developers are willing to spent ~$15 per cartridge.

 

[LoggerMan]

Because 60GB game cards cost a fortune compared to blu ray discs. A blue ray game costs between 60 cents and a dollar to make and package fully (not including fees). A 64GB cart will cost at least $15-20. A packaged game key cart will probably be made for less than $2 when the production gets pumping in earnest. This will translate to cheaper games because retail is always chasing the bottom dollar. Nintendo first party games are price controlled so you won't see it there, and Nintendo already said they will be using actual game carts and not game key carts for their games anyway. But I mean c'mon, this is gbatemp, we'll be backing up copies of these games no matter the format to our modified Switch 2's at the end of the day anyway.