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WIRED
28-05-2025
- Business
- WIRED
The Switch 2 May Signal the End of Physical Games
May 28, 2025 6:30 AM Nintendo's 'game-key cards' may end up being physical gaming media's last gasp—even though they don't have a game on them at all. The Nintendo game-key card and the Nintendo Switch 2 console. Courtesy of Nintendo One of the biggest changes of Nintendo's generational leap to the Switch 2 is the new console's game carts. Not the aesthetic shift—they're now red, to differentiate them from the original Switch's slate gray ones—but rather that, in many cases, they won't contain a game at all. While all first-party Nintendo games are currently expected to be released on-cart, other publishers may choose to release their Switch 2 titles on 'game-key cards.' These have no actual game data on them, instead serving as a physical license to access and play a digital version of a game. Per Nintendo, after players insert the game-key card into their console, they'll be prompted to download the associated game. An internet connection will be required to download the game and for any online features, but otherwise, game-key card titles will be playable offline as normal, so long as that physical cartridge is inserted, its presence serving as a software authentication tool. It's a direction that has proven controversial with both fans and some developers (former Assassin's Creed and Far Cry lead Alex Hutchinson said, 'I think it's sort of lame,' while Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick said the move is 'a little disheartening') and could be confusing for consumers, despite Nintendo's plans to clearly mark the packaging of game-key card titles. However, the move does have several positives—and it may just be a harbinger of the future for the entire games industry. Better Than Literally Nothing Probably the biggest plus point to game-key cards is that they're an improvement on the current equivalent, which is … nothing at all. Switch cartridges are a proprietary storage format, which means they can be more expensive, per GB of storage, to release games on than mass-market media. As a result, several game publishers sell titles in a 'code in a box' format—entirely empty Switch cases with a single-use, digital download code to redeem on the Nintendo eShop. While these sorts of releases ostensibly fill a market gap, giving real-world retailers a product to put on shelves and, even for online sellers, providing some form of physical object to send to customers—useful to give out as gifts, for instance—they've always been an odd category. Collectors typically want an actual game on their shelves, while those unbothered by a permanent library would likely be browsing a digital-only storefront in the first place. Either way, once that code has been redeemed, the customer is left with an empty plastic case with no purpose and no secondary market value. Code-in-a-box releases are ultimately a waste of materials to produce and dispose of, the remnants likely destined for landfill. Game-key cards go some small way to solving these problems. For collectors, they'll have something in the case lining their shelves, making their collections tangible, while more casual players can take a chance on titles they're unsure of. That's because the carts won't be tied to user accounts—anyone with the cart downloads their own copy of the game. Because the cartridge itself is the key, you'll be able to lend out, sell, or trade-in game-key cards as easily as carts for previous console generations, and only whoever physically possesses it will be able to play. There is still a convenience factor to consider, as you'll need to have that cart inserted into your Switch 2 to play the game, unlike entirely digital purchases, but it stands to be a far more versatile and arguably consumer-friendly approach than those one-time codes. We'll have chance to see which format players prefer with the first wave of Switch 2 titles, as titles like EA's Split Fiction sticks with the code-in-a-box approach. The biggest concern surrounding game-key cards, particularly for collectors, is likely to be longevity. A 40-year-old NES game cart can still be played on a working console—will the same be possible for a Switch 2 game in 2065? A game-key card would, presumably, still authenticate an already installed game to run (in this hypothetical, your Switch 2 console is still intact and working decades from now, too), but if the servers aren't running anymore to enable downloading the linked software in the first place, that cart would be useless—just more e-waste. However, Switch 2 games could still be available to download for a long time. There's precedent here—although the Wii virtual store has long since been deactivated for new purchases, players can still download their existing purchases. Similarly, 3DS games and even update data can also be redownloaded, more than a year after its online store was turned off. Those might represent different scenarios, given digital purchases on those earlier platforms were tied to the specific piece of hardware. (For example, Nintendo says you need "the same Wii console you used to originally download the game" to redownload.) Nintendo has since adopted an account-based structure for Switch 1, linking purchases to the user who bought them, and transferable to a new console. That leaves game-key cards in a sort of limbo, unaffiliated with either hardware or user. That could throw up unforeseen hurdles in the much longer term—there'd be no way to predict when a game-key card in the wild would be plugged in and need a game to download—but based on Nintendo's track record for supporting digital games on retired hardware, there doesn't appear to be anything to be immediately concerned about, especially when backward compatibility on Switch 2 is looking like a priority. It is fair to wonder why, if publishers are releasing a game on a cart at all, they wouldn't just put the game on there anyway. There are likely some practical reasons to explain this, though. Like the original Switch, the proprietary format again means cards that include flash memory to store game data on are more expensive to produce, so it's a way to keep production costs down. Don't expect a consumer benefit from that, but it will make business sense, somewhere. Pushing the Limit Then there's the matter of storage limits. Switch 2 carts can hold a maximum of 64 GB of data—double the total internal capacity on the original Switch console itself, but still pretty meager compared to game sizes now. Some studios have performed some dark compression magic—CD Projekt Red has crammed Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition , which weighs in at over 70 GB on PC, down to just 56.8 GB on Switch 2 to be one of the few third-party titles shipping with the full game data on the card—but other games may be larger than an actual Switch 2 cart could hold. Games exceeding the capacity of physical media isn't unique to Nintendo. The recent PS5 release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has only 20 GB on-disc, which sounds paltry when you consider a PS5 disc can hold up to 100 GB of data, but not when the installed size of the game is over 120 GB. Bethesda's Doom: The Dark Ages, too, ships with only 85 MB of data on the game disc (although there, the full install potentially could fit on a disc). However, like Nintendo's game-key cards, both of these prompt players to download the actual game in full. It's worth remembering that even when a game's data is on a disc or cart at launch it's rarely the full and final version of a game nowadays. Even for single-player titles, day-one patches, updates, bug fixes, and bonus DLC can drastically change a game after release (which raises philosophical questions for preservationists too—which iteration do you save?) and require more storage space. As data demands continue to balloon, we may have reached the limit of physical storage for video games, so game-key cards (or discs) may be the best we get. In that light, Nintendo providing any material release at all is actually a small win for fans of physical media, especially given how boxed-game sales have absolutely cratered. Industry analyst Mat Piscatella highlighted in January 2025 that spending on physical games in the US has halved since 2021 and is down 85 percent on a 2008 high. In the UK, a recent study by trade body UKIE found that physical sales accounted for just 4 percent of total spend in 2024 and represented a 34 percent fall year on year. Increasingly, consumers are choosing to go digital even when a physical option exists. Even collector's editions, those bastions of physical media, are now abandoning physical copies of their game. Sony's upcoming Ghost of Yōtei costs $250 for the premium package and still provides just a download code for the game itself. Physical releases are becoming an afterthought. These shifts in consumer and corporate behavior absolutely raise questions about game preservation and long-term access to the games we play, but those questions apply across the whole industry. As it stands, Nintendo's game-key cards may end up being physical gaming media's last gasp—even though they don't have a game on them at all.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
7 games to play as you wait for Doom The Dark Ages
(Image via Bethesda Softworks) Doom : The Dark Ages hype is real, but there's still some time for its release. It has left the fans craving some high-octane signature chaos, and this list here is to fill that void. The list mentioned below takes a dive into the 7 explosive FPS titles that are known to channel similar adrenaline-pumping energy. It does so through retro vibes, relentless combat, and sci-fi carnage. From some remastered classics to modern games, here is the survival guide for your wait. Quake II Remastered Quake II - Official Trailer (2023) The game is a revival of Quake II by Nightdive Studios. It delivers the nostalgia-packed punch, with the definitive edition bundling the upgraded visuals, expansions, and the new MachineGames campaign. The blast through Strogg hordes with the gameplay tweaks that's silky-smooth. It also includes a handy objective compass. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Quake II Remastered is a fast-paced and no-frills action that remains timeless. Whether you are diving into online multiplayer or exploring the remastered levels of N64, this game is the way to experience the FPS brilliance from the '90s. Metro: Exodus Metro Exodus - Launch Trailer I PS5 Swap the hellscapes for the nuclear winter in the game. The atmospheric trilogy blends perfectly the haunting open-world exploration and claustrophobic tunnels. Scavenge through, survive, and then fend off the mutants under the eerie skies that are enhanced by the ray tracing in Enhanced Edition. Metro: Exodus is the gripping story of sacrifice and hope that pairs perfectly with the tense combat. It's a slower burn than Doom but is equally gripping in the grim immersion. Halo: The Master Chief Collection Halo: The Master Chief Collection - The Ultimate Halo Experience With this game, you get a chance to relive the sage that truly redefined the console shooters. The anthology packs 6 Halo games that are remastered with modern enhancements. The battles of Master Chief against Covenant offer varied sandbox combat, legendary set pieces, and iconic weapons. From the depth of Halo 4 to Combat Evolved and its simplicity, the game is the masterclass within evolving gameplay. It is perfect to hone the one-army instincts before Doom The Dark Ages is released. Wolfenstein: The New Order Wolfenstein: The New Order - E3 Trailer Wolfenstein: The New Order perfectly blends the machinegames' brutal gunplay with the signature heartfelt story. Dual-wield the shotguns, dismantle mechs, and then topple the dystopian regime in the alternate 1960s. The crusade of B.J. Blazkowicz balances the stealth and also the all-out carnage. While the quieter moments do explore humanity amidst the war, the frenetic combat of the game channels the spirit of Doom. It is a must-play for fans of the action storytelling and headshots, which are quite satisfying. Dusk DUSK - LAUNCH TRAILER The Indie game nails the FPS vibe of the '90s with a modern twist. The battle cultists and the Lovecraftian horrors across 3 blood-soaked episodes. From sickles to the explosive rifle arsenal, it feels both inventive and classic. Dusk's aesthetic hides a clever level design and the breakneck pacing. It doesn't just imitate the past but elevates it and makes every single shotgun blast and secret hunt a thrill. Titanfall 2 Titanfall 2 Single Player Cinematic Trailer The cult classic of Titanfall 2 merges the fluid movement with the Titan warfare. The wall run, pilot towering mechanics, and campaign slides are creative and appreciative. The skill-based chaos of the game is why it still shines years later. While it is shorter than Doom, the kinetic combat and its seamless scale-switching together make it essential prep for the rumored mech battles of Doom The Dark Ages. Note: Your speed is your survival here. Supplice Supplice - Official Early Access Launch Trailer The game is born from the modding passion and channels the DNA of Doom through the retro-futuristic lens. Drill here through the alien hordes in the character of Zorah Null, wielding some absurd weapons across pixel art and trippy words. The game delivers clever callbacks and relentless action to the players. With abundant secrets and a killer soundtrack, the game is fresh and yet offers the familiar rush. It is proof that Indie devs do understand the heart of Doom— no plot twists. Just some unhinged pure carnage. While Doom The Dark Ages is soon going to be released on May 15, 2025, the seven titles above offer all, from unapologetic chaos to storytelling. Whether you are craving innovation or nostalgia or are feeling like something to shoot, the lineup here will ensure your wait feels less hellish and more like a preparation.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Retro remake dev calls Switch 2 game-key cards "disheartening," says you'd hope a company as big as Nintendo "would take preservation a little more seriously"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Future / Nintendo The CEO behind retro remake specialists Nightdive Studios has called the Nintendo Switch 2's game-key cards "a little disheartening." Revealed alongside all else Switch 2 in and around Nintendo's big showcase at the start of April, game-key cards give developers the option to provide players with a physical cartridge that doesn't come with full game data, but rather the ability to download the game they purchased. While that might be ideal regarding the rising sizes of games, it's proven controversial to many, partly because it's not the best for preservation efforts. One such person among that chorus would be Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick, who tells that you'd hope for better given Nintendo's history. "Seeing Nintendo do this is a little disheartening," he says. "You would hope that a company that big, that has such a storied history, would take preservation a little more seriously." Thankfully, the broader picture is a little bit brighter. While Nintendo's move is a "step back" for preservation efforts, Kick points to the recent news of Square Enix, Capcom, Sega, and Taito's commitment to archiving past development materials as a step in the right direction. "While that's really nice, it would have also been nice if they did this 20 years ago, right?" Kick says, laughing. "But that could be said for everybody. I think everybody is definitely putting in way more effort these days to back up their stuff, which is great. It'll make our jobs easier as a studio that primarily focuses on remasters. "There won't be that struggle, hopefully, to find source code and assets to create collections and that kind of stuff in the future." Keeping up with all the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news? Be sure to check out our roundup of upcoming Switch 2 games, too.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
$666 edition of Doom includes game box that, itself, plays Doom
There are physical editions of the iconic shooters Doom and Doom II coming out, thanks to Limited Run Games. All editions ship with both games, but the highlight is something called the Will it Run Edition. This one comes with all kinds of extra goodies, including a game box that actually runs the original Doom. You read that right. Box play Doom. All you have to do is connect a USB controller, as the box also has a port. It costs $666, which is a nod to the devilish source material, and is being kept to a limited run of 666 copies. It comes with the aforementioned screen-enabled game box that runs Doom, but that's just the beginning. The combo pack ships with the soundtrack on cassette, a certificate of authenticity and a trading card park with five cards. It comes with a couple of toys based on one of the franchise's most iconic enemies. There's a detailed three-inch Cacodemon that connects to a five-inch base, which looks pretty nifty. There's a smaller handheld Cacodemon that, you'll never guess, also runs Doom. This edition is available for Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The PC version, however, ships with a download code and not physical copies of both games. Preorders start on April 18 and end on May 18, with a release sometime after that. If $666 is too rich, or demonic, for your blood, there are also cheaper editions available. The Big Box Edition costs $100 and ships with both games, a really big box, a trading card set and the soundtrack on cassette. The Standard Edition only includes the games and costs $30. However, these aren't straight ports of two 30-year-old games. The developer has made some enhancements for modern players. The visuals have been upgraded, with a native 60 FPS frame rate and 16:9 support. The weapon carousel has been updated for faster switching and the dev has added gyroscopic aiming. These titles now offer local four-player co-op and online play. The games also include a bunch of new maps and long-standing community mods, with the ability to integrate new mods. There's even a brand-new episode called Legacy of Rust that was co-designed by id, Nightdive Studios and MachineGames. Players can also switch between the original music and a modern soundtrack. For those wondering why the developer would even make a box that runs Doom, it's because the game's ability to run on weird things has become a beloved meme at this point. Doom has been found running on pregnancy tests, rat brain neurons and even via gut bacteria.
