The reasons are three words: Game Key Cards.

This is one bait and switch both longtime gamers and most casuals aren’t falling for thankfully.

For those who don’t know, Game Key Cards do not contain the game. They are needed to download and then play the game. Nintendo came up with it for games that exceed 64GB which is the storage size for Switch 2 game cards. Instead of developing proprietary Game Cards that can hold more storage, they’re basically forcing consumers to buy multiple proprietary MicroSD Express memory cards. MicroSD Express Memory Cards max out of 2TB. Meaning after buying a few such games, you’ll be running low on storage space and need a second Memory Card.

Nintendo has two consumer-friendly options, one of which ProjectRekt showed them with the Switch 2 port of Cyberpunk 2077: Compress the game and make it small enough to fit on a standard Switch 2 Game Card. The other option that I just mentioned would be for Nintendo to simply develop higher-capacity Switch 2 Game Cards. Minimum 128GB or 256GB though 512GB or 1TB just to be safe. There’s literally no excuse for this from Nintendo in particular. It’s 100% a choice on their part.

Me, I’m not getting a Switch 2 anytime soon. Mostly over this but also because there’s no Switch 2 exclusives I’m in a rush to get and that includes the recently announced Pokemon Wind and Waves. I got most of the Switch 1-era games long after they were current as a reminder. The Switch 1 Pokemon games I got when they were current? Violet, Scarlet and Legends Z-A though it’s largely because I got my first Switch in 2022–3 years before the Switch 2’s release. If Nintendo wants to stay profitable, they will continue to release titles across both Switch consoles like Sony did with the PS4 and PS5. This is coming from someone who has a wish list of just Switch 1 ports like Xenoblade Chronicles and Civilization VII that I plan to buy physical before they get too rare or expensive on the secondhand market.

As a reminder, I don’t mind buying console games digital and more so when there are sales. On the hand, I am being mindful with physical games I don’t have to worry when the eShop eventually shuts down. I mostly buy digital games on the Switch and PS4 that don’t have a physical release, most of such games also getting released via Steam.

There actually is one game that I have both a physical and a digital copy of:

I saw a preowned copy on sale at Gamestop for $12 so I bought it. It was that simple. I play the physical version on my OLED and the digital version on my Switch Lite. I learned from that experience how to play the same game across two consoles at the same time. That’s good since I plan to buy Skyrim physical at some point in the future. When I do, I’ll continue to plat it digital on my Switch OLED but will play it physical on my Switch Lite.

On a relate note and I can’t believe I forgot to talk about this. No, I will not give Nintendo more money for Switch 2 Edition upgrades of Switch 1 games. I plan to exclusively play Switch 1 games on my Switch 1 consoles anyway. Yes, I’m keeping my Switch 1 and Switch 2 libraries separate on that note. I’ve had almost a year’s worth of time to practice rolling two Switch 1 consoles at this point. I’ll make it work.

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