The Nintendo Switch 2’s physical game cartridges currently have two big issues: slower loading speeds than the console’s internal storage, and a single available capacity of just 64GB. These two issues have exacerbated what many deem to be one of their biggest annoyances with the console, the increasing presence of downloadable Game Key Cards instead of traditional cartridges.
One of the Switch 2’s most exciting upcoming releases is Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, a massive 100GB title that couldn’t possibly fit on a single 64GB cart. Speaking to WCCFTech earlier this month, director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that they believe Nintendo will be working hard to popularise Game Key Cards as the issues with physical cartridges continue.
Speaking to the outlet, Hamaguchi explained that the “loading speed issue for the game cartridge is more about the hardware spec of the Nintendo Switch 2”, presuming that faster carts are simply an impossibility for the console later in the generation.
As a developer, Hamaguchi praised the existance of Game Key Cards for the system, calling them “a really amazing new idea that they had offered for us” as devs would have to have a digital-only release of many titles otherwise.
In the interview, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake developer explained that he can’t imagine major improvements coming to cartridge speed as the generation continues, although higher capacity carts could arrive. Instead, Hamaguchi expects Nintendo will try to popularise Game Key Cards with fans to keep more games coming to the system.
“I don’t personally see Nintendo working towards trying to improve the loading speed for the cartridges,” Hamaguchi said. “Rather, I feel that Nintendo will put more effort into popularising the Game Key Card format which again is a really fantastic idea for us developers
“Also, we hope players familiarise themselves with what that costs them. That obviously is something we can help out with as well, from the developer side. I think that collaborative effort between Nintendo and publishers trying to promote the Game Key Card will be the best way forward for all players in the future”.
While Game Key Cards are certainly better than codes in a box, there is the issue that they are, essentially, empty. Outside of a small license file to download the game onto your Switch 2, there is no data on the cartridge. Other systems—like PS5 and Xbox Series—often have entire games on their discs which, at some point in the future, will be invaluable when servers are inevitably turned off. Unfortunately, Game Key Cards don’t offer that same fallback.
Nevertheless, it seems that Game Key Cards are here to stay, annoyingly being an essential part of supporting Switch 2 for developers of particularly demanding games. However, there are games that certainly could fit and run from a normal cartridge, and those titles will certainly draw the ire of fans if they’re not on a physical cart.
