I'm ignoring the game key cards cards because they're not relevant. Nintendo isn't doing that for their first-party titles. It's an option for third-parties. But that's third-parties pushing for digital, not Nintendo.
Replies
Game Key Cards are relevant cause it is what leads to more purchases on the Nintendo Digital Market. The more you purchase on a digital market, the more you are likely to continue to spend on that market. Why else is Steam so dominant even though other places sometimes have even better prices?
jul 23, 2025, 11:06 pm • 0 0 • view
Why would Nintendo use game key cards to push their digital market if they're not even putting their own games on key cards?
jul 23, 2025, 11:19 pm • 0 0 • view
Because they probably knew what a shitshow it would be if they did. People were mad enough about Game Key Cards with third-party publishers. Plus there is no guarantee Nintendo won't use it in future. And again, they can use other methods like deeply discounted digital bundles.
jul 23, 2025, 11:23 pm • 0 0 • view
Why start now? Game key cards/discs aren't new, just the branding. Why not sell empty discs/cards on the Wii U or Switch 1?
jul 23, 2025, 11:34 pm • 0 0 • view
Because it is a PR nightmare. The release of the Xbox One illustrated that. Also the WiiU didn't even have a good account system for that to work out, given that all digital purchases were tied to the console. As for the Switch, that is when Nintendo was just starting their new account system.
jul 23, 2025, 11:40 pm • 1 0 • view
Plus the Switch was coming off the failure of the WiiU. They needed everything to go well, and introducing a system where you were buying meaningless cartridges would have just been a repeat of the Xbox One debacle.
jul 23, 2025, 11:43 pm • 0 0 • view