The Switch 2's data-free, downloadable Game Key Cards have proven controversial with players concerned about long-term ownership and access issues with their purchases. But they have remained popular with publishers looking to save production costs on a boxed Switch 2 game release, as Game Key Cards don't contain any of the expensive flash memory found on a standard Switch 2 cartridge.
Now at least one publisher has publicly suggested that Nintendo offer cheaper Switch 2 cartridge options with smaller storage capacities, lowering production costs in a way that could make full cartridge releases more feasible for many games on the console.
Earlier this week, R-type dimensions III Publisher Inin Games explained to customers that it couldn't switch from Game Key Cards to a “fully physical cartridge” for the retail version of the Switch 2 game without “significant increases.”[ing] production costs.” Those additional costs would “force us to increase the sales price by at least €15 [about $20],” Inin Games wrote at the time.
However, in an update posted to social media earlier today, the publisher said that “there couldn't be better timing: two days ago Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridges [storage capacity] sizes for the Nintendo Switch 2. This allows us to recalculate production in a way that was not possible before.”
As a result, Inin said it has decided to replace the Game Key Cards that would come in the game's box with full physical cartridges. That change will result in the game's asking price increasing by €10 (about $13) “due to even higher production costs,” Inin explains. Yet that is still less than the “at least €15” that Inin speculatively quoted a few days ago for the same change. And Inin told early pre-order customers R-type dimensions III doesn't have to pay the higher price and essentially gets the entire cartridge at no extra cost.
