Nintendo’s Game-Key Cards Are “Disheartening” for Game Preservation – Nightdive Studios CEO

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Nintendo’s debut of Game-Key Cards, allowing digital-exclusive games to have physical versions too, has sparked debate, with some viewing it as a contentious decision. A studio head expressed their disappointment about this change, calling it “discouraging” in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz.

Stephen Kick, CEO of Nightdive Studios, expressed his expectation that Nintendo might pay more attention to the concept of game preservation. In his opinion, it’s somewhat disappointing to see Nintendo not giving this matter the gravity it deserves. He added that considering the company’s grand scale and rich history, one would expect them to approach preservation with a greater sense of urgency.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve come to realize that relying on the Game-Key Card system for game preservation could potentially lead to a predicament. In the future, Nintendo might choose to shut down servers supporting online game downloads. This isn’t an unprecedented move, as we’ve seen it with past consoles like the Wii U and 3DS, where the servers are no longer active, meaning that digitally-purchased games can no longer be accessed. It’s a reminder to us gamers that digital ownership isn’t always permanent.

Professor James Newman, game development course leader at Bath Spa University and co-founder of the Videogame Heritage Society, pointed out that on the first day of a cartridge’s release, it may contain data for the game. However, due to frequent updates, patches, and expansions delivered through downloads, the cartridge often becomes disconnected from the game, serving more as a physical copy protection device for a digital product instead.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been keeping tabs on the industry, and it seems Nintendo is stepping into an all-digital future with their Game-Key Card. Jon-Paul Dyson, Director of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, believes that this move isn’t a surprise. He mentioned that despite being a bit late to the game compared to other major console manufacturers, Nintendo is finally embracing the digital era.

Although maintaining older games can prove difficult, Kick feels Nintendo’s latest action might signal a retreat in their approach. Yet, he remains hopeful about the future prospects of game preservation.

You know, it’d have been fantastic if they had started archiving their development materials 20 years ago too, don’t you think? Still, it’s terrific to see everyone stepping up their game now when it comes to preserving their work. As a studio specializing in remasters, I can say that this effort will undoubtedly make our jobs smoother and more efficient.

In the future, it’s likely we won’t face difficulties locating source code and assets for creating collections and similar tasks.

With the impending launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th, some buyers are discovering that various third-party games can only be purchased using Game-Key Cards. Unlike traditional game cards, these Game-Key Cards won’t contain any game data. Instead, they function as access keys, enabling the Switch 2 to download and play the corresponding game. To use a game with this system, players must keep the card inserted in the console while playing. Effectively, the card mimics a regular game card in this setup.

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2025-05-05 18:11