PSA: Octopath Traveler 0 on Nintendo Switch 2 Is a Game-Key Card Only

Following the announcement of Octopath Traveler 0 during yesterday's Nintendo Partner Direct, immoderate fans are seeing their excitement turning into irritation upon proceeding the quality that the Nintendo Switch 2 carnal variation of the crippled is conscionable a Game-Key Card, and not an existent carnal crippled copy.

This accusation comes from the assorted listings of the crippled crossed income platforms including Amazon, Best Buy, and Square Enix's ain website. All Nintendo Switch 2 editions of the crippled amusement the "Game-Key Card" indicator connected the bottommost of the container art, alternatively than a afloat container indicating a carnal edition. Even the game's $230 Collector's Edition is simply a Game-Key Card connected Nintendo Switch 2, but a carnal variation for each different versions.

The Nintendo Switch 1 carnal variation of the crippled is, however, an existent carnal card. But there's a downside to this, too. As stated by Square Enix connected societal platforms, the Nintendo Switch 1 variation cannot beryllium upgraded to the Nintendo Switch 2 variation — there's nary path, paid oregon otherwise. This means that if idiosyncratic wants a carnal variation of the crippled for their Nintendo Switch 2, they either person to get an inferior Switch 1 variation and conscionable woody with it, oregon beryllium stuck with a Game-Key Card.

And if you're asking, "Who cares?" the reply is... rather a fewer folks! Game-Key Cards are carnal cards, but they don't really incorporate the crippled connected the paper itself. Instead, the paper has a codification that initiates a download of the crippled successful question, meaning it's inactive a integer game.

This is frustrating to those with tenable qualms astir integer ownership rights, arsenic good arsenic those for whom the full entreaty of getting a carnal crippled transcript is not having to walk clip downloading it successful the archetypal place. It's besides irritating that the Switch 1 variation isn't adjacent upgradeable — what if idiosyncratic wants to bargain the crippled astatine launch, but past acquisition a Nintendo Switch 2 astatine a aboriginal date? What a mess.

Game-Key Cards person proven an irritation for Nintendo fans since they were announced. Even immoderate developers aren't thrilled astir the notion, particularly fixed its dicey implications for crippled preservation.

However, Nintendo claims they're utile particularly for games with larger record sizes that mightiness beryllium hard to acceptable connected a cartridge, but that besides comes with the double-edged sword of a bigger, longer download (Octopath Traveler 0 appears to beryllium 5GB). And arsenic Niko Partners manager of probe & insights Daniel Ahmad puts it, they tin assistance support crippled costs down. Cards are much costly than discs to produce, and cardinal cards tin assistance trim costs portion inactive providing thing that looks similar a carnal variation for those who privation it.

Still, each this has enactment an unfortunate damper for immoderate connected yesterday's different breathtaking news. It's besides made Square Enix fans successful peculiar wary, arsenic Bravely Default 1 HD Remaster was besides a Game-Key Card only. Is Square Enix committed to this strategy for each its Nintendo Switch 2 games going forward? Perhaps including newly-announced The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales? We'll person to hold and see.

Rebekah Valentine is simply a elder newsman for IGN. You tin find her posting connected BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a communicative tip? Send it to [email protected].