Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards Won’t Be Tied To Your Account

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With the arrival of the second generation Switch, Nintendo plans to introduce Game-Key cards. Unlike traditional games, these cards don’t hold the game data themselves but instead initiate a downloadable version for you to play. This has raised some concerns among potential buyers regarding the resale value of their games since the card functions as an authentication device. However, it seems that the Game-Key cards won’t be linked to your Nintendo account. Instead, the user will be able to play the game associated with them on any Switch 2 console they insert the card into.

As a dedicated gamer, I’m thrilled to share that according to Nintendo’s Tetsuya Sasaki, these new key cards will function independently of any accounts. Instead, they’ll activate directly on the console or system where they’re inserted, offering a standalone gaming experience! (TopMob interview)

The specific reason for some games using the Game-Key format is still unclear, but Nintendo’s support page has confirmed that a Game-Key Card must stay in the Nintendo Switch 2 even after the game has been downloaded and installed. An internet connection is necessary only during the initial startup of the Game-Key Card, following which the game can be played offline on the Switch 2. To distinguish Game-Key cards from those containing the full game, they will have a white banner at the bottom of their Switch 2 game cases.

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Two upcoming games appear set to break new ground, as Mario Kart World is poised to become the first Nintendo title to debut at $80. For quite some time now, Nintendo has typically priced its in-house releases at $60, with only a few exceptions like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, the company maintains that it assesses each game individually when determining pricing.

Similar titles such as Kirby and the Lost Lands, Super Mario Party Celebration, and the upcoming Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Ocean Kingdom will cost $80 each, just like before. And no, the physical game cards for the new Switch console won’t have a pleasant taste to them.

Industry experts suggest that the prices might rise even more due to the recently imposed tariffs by President Donald Trump, which impact numerous nations, such as Vietnam, a significant manufacturer of Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.

The effects have already manifested, as Nintendo revealed last week that the initial U.S. preorders for the Switch 2 have been pushed back from its original launch date of April 9, owing to the tariffs.

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2025-04-07 19:41