Final Fantasy VII Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi has talked to Automaton all about Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards which have proven to be a hot topic online. Given the size of Final Fantasy VII Remake on the Nintendo Switch 2 it wouldn’t have fit on a traditional 64GB cartridge and Mr. Hamaguchi has spoken about the benefits of delivering graphically intensive games on Game-Key Cards, such as how the game data loads on the new and controversial format compared to a traditional cartridge.
“There’s simply no way around key cards in certain respects. If you compare loading directly from a game cartridge (containing all game data) to loading from the Nintendo Switch 2’s internal storage, the load speed difference is roughly double.
Some have expressed concern that multiplatform development may impose constraints not only on graphics, but even on game design itself. However, this is precisely why we didn’t choose a cartridge.
Our game design isn’t built around loading all data upfront, with nothing further being loaded afterward. Even during gameplay, data is constantly swapped in and out, and given that premise, the loading speed from a game card would inevitably be insufficient, leading to stress for the player. In addition, with currently available cartridge capacity, there is the practical limitation that the full game data simply wouldn’t fit in the first place.
However, as long as we can secure the high-speed storage read speeds such as SSD or UFS (on Switch 2), the design we’re aiming for becomes achievable within the scope of optimization for each platform. For the third game in the trilogy, we’re proceeding with development with the goal of delivering a large-scale experience similar to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, so please rest assured on that point.
In the past, when faced with practical issues related to load speed and storage capacity we couldn’t resolve, we had to decide not to release on Nintendo systems. However, Nintendo Switch 2’s performance is impressive, and with a key card format like FFVII Remake, releasing the games became possible. I believe the only thing I can do is continue to sincerely communicate that fact to users.”
Makes sense. PlayStation hasn’t ran games off of discs in generations for this same reason. Excited to double dip on Rebirth for the portability!
Collectors don’t care about game loading speeds, that’s a problem for the players. They just need to grow their personal Nintendo archive and publishers should recognize their traditions.
They could just release it only digitally if that was their main concern, seeing that a key card is just a digital release with an extra step. It’s not ownership, it’s not even the illusion of ownership.
Why release it only digitally when they could sell it in more places than only on the eShop? Wouldn’t that limit potential sales?
Some people like a box and a physical cartridge, so it gives you that. Also good for gifting the game, you have something to wrap up. It also allows players to resell the game or let friends borrow it (in a much better way than the virtual game card nonsense). So there are advantages vs digital.
Disadvantage – you need to insert the cartridge to play the game.
Exactly I do t know why people are so uptight about keycards. They are great in the sense that you can resell or give to someone else.