One Of Japan’s National Libraries Will Not Accept Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards For Its Preservation Effort

One of the largest arguments against the Nintendo Switch 2 is not the similarities to the preceding system or the minimal differences that may appear to it either. It is the fact that it introduced new ‘Game-Key Cards’ as alternative cartridges for the new console. While there are titles that will still release fully on the console, majority of the games thus far have been on these new cartridges instead.

As expected, some vocal individuals in the industry has spoken against the decision in practice. Additionally, game distributors like Limited Run Games & Video Games Plus has advocated to align with physical releases featuring only native-supported titles. Thus far, the most sold third-party title is Cyberpunk 2077 with more than 75% of units moved being physical transactions.

In the long term of things, it appears that Game-Key Cards draw the line for national entities in Japan. Via Automaton, it was revealed that these new cartridges will not be properly preserved by the National Diet Library (NDL). Although housing more than 9,600 video games already through its preservation initiative, Nintendo Switch 2 will not get the same level of attention.

“Since a key card, on its own, does not qualify as content, it falls outside of our scope for collection and preservation,” a comment from the an NDL representative shares. Of course, this does not apply to the entirety of the Nintendo Switch 2 library. First-party releases are notably still releasing full on cartridge – that even includes the ‘Switch 2 Edition’ enhanced versions from the original Nintendo Switch.

To give perspective for developers that decided to opt-in for Game-Key Cards, Ubisoft did leave a lasting counter to the argument. For the release of Star Wars Outlaws, they explained that the performance and overall delivery of the game would be worse off if natively on the cartridge. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you surprised by this choice made by the Japanese National Diet Library?

Source: Famitsu