Nintendo Confirms: Switch 2 Game Key Cards Support Secondhand Sales
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Nintendo's newly revealed "Game Key Card" system for the Switch 2 (tentative name) has drawn significant attention. This innovative design combines the characteristics of physical cartridges and digital games while supporting free resale, sharing, or rental of games among players.
The key cards themselves don't store game data, functioning solely as activation credentials. During initial use, players need to connect online to download the full game content. Afterward, simply inserting the card enables gameplay even offline.
Unlike current digital games tied to accounts, these key cards remain completely independent of user accounts. Game ownership is tied to the card itself rather than an account, allowing free circulation through resale, lending, or rental.
Players can resell key cards through secondhand platforms like eBay, mirroring traditional physical game circulation. For instance, games like Cyberpunk 2077 using this format could let players recoup costs through resale after completion.
The system enables multi-user sharing and short-term rentals, effectively resolving the account-binding limitations of digital games. This hybrid approach preserves the collectible appeal of physical media while offering digital convenience.