Final Fantasy 7 Director Urges Fans to Accept Switch 2 Game Key Cards — Developers Say They Enable Bigger, Faster Games

The Switch 2 has sparked a steady debate over so-called *game key cards*: boxes that include a physical cartridge which only holds a purchase key, forcing buyers to download the full game to their console. Developers say these cards make development and loading easier, while players point to storage, preservation and ownership problems.

1. What are game key cards?
2. Why developers use them
3. Consumer concerns
4. Naoki Hamaguchi’s comments
5. What this means going forward

What are game key cards?

Game key cards are physical releases that include a cartridge which contains an authentication key rather than the full game data. Thus, buyers must download the game to the Switch 2 before they can play. In response to criticism, some publishers have confirmed they will instead release full-game cartridges; for example, a publisher recently said they’re eschewing key cards for certain releases.

Why developers use them

From a technical and cost point of view, developers often choose key cards because physical cartridges with full game data are limited in capacity and more expensive to produce. For context, the Switch 2 uses a faster internal SSD, and many studios say delivering games as downloadable builds avoids the 64GB cartridge limit and simplifies patching.

Moreover, some developers have expressed frustration that their two main options are larger, costlier cartridges or game key cards; that frustration was reported in industry coverage of developer feedback to Nintendo and partners. For example, a report detailed developer concerns and discussions around these constraints and choices in Bloomberg Japan.

Consumer concerns

Players raise several concrete issues. First, the Switch 2 ships with 256GB of internal storage, but many modern AAA games are very large. Consequently, consumers often need to buy larger SD cards or constantly uninstall and reinstall games. Second, there are questions about long-term preservation and ownership: if a game requires an online authentication or download, will buyers still be able to play it if online services end?

Additionally, key cards create a mixed experience: you need an internet connection the first time to download the full game, and then the physical cartridge must remain inserted to play offline. As a result, some Nintendo players have been vocal; in fact, Nintendo has been gauging player reactions about the practice.

Naoki Hamaguchi’s comments

Final Fantasy Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the situation in an interview and explained the developer perspective. He said, “I can see the things that they are maybe annoyed with, maybe why they don’t like it, and I get that, I really do,” in comments originally published by JP Games and reported by VGC.

He also noted performance and workflow benefits: “This is just my personal thoughts about this, but I’d kind of like, if possible, maybe Nintendo fans to understand the Game-Key cards and maybe come to accept them as part of the culture of gaming on Switch, because it allows more opportunities,” Hamaguchi said. “I really get where people are coming from in terms of their negativity towards it, and there are good reasons and debates to have there,” he added. “But if people come to accept it more, I think there are advantages too, and from a developer’s perspective, it does let us do things that maybe we wouldn’t otherwise.”

What this means going forward

In short, the facts show two clear trade-offs. On one hand, game key cards reduce cartridge size constraints, can speed up loading by using the Switch 2’s SSD, and can simplify patches and distribution for developers. On the other hand, players face higher storage demands, potential preservation risks, and a hybrid experience that some find inconvenient.

Meanwhile, the industry context is broader: some rival platforms are moving away from disc drives, and spending on physical games has been declining, which affects publisher choices. For example, the PS5 Pro was reported to lack a disc drive by TheGamer, and analyses show a fall in physical-game spending in recent years on Reddit. Therefore, both developer needs and market trends are shaping how games are sold on consoles like the Switch 2.