The introduction of the Nintendo Switch 2 brought players more powerful hardware, a better eShop, and a slew of new games, but one change introduced with the new console has been almost universally criticized. Starting with the Switch 2, some physical editions of games don’t come with cartridges at all, but rather “game-key cards,” which resemble cartridges but in fact only represent and unlock a digital version of the game. Players have mostly been unhappy with the new option, and now, they have a chance to tell Nintendo exactly what they think about it, good or bad.
Nintendo introduced a survey on game-key cards early in August, and it was quickly spotted and shared on social media. The survey isn’t solely focused on game-key cards, instead asking respondents about how likely they are to purchase games in different formats, such as direct downloads, cartridges, or digital copies bought from retailers. For each option, players can indicate how likely they are to make a purchase for themselves or as a gift for others. The survey also asks why players prefer their selected options. It’s the second time Nintendo has asked players about the controversial key cards, following a similar survey sent to players in Japan.
