Final Fantasy 7 Remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi has defended the usage of Game Key Cards on the Nintendo Switch 2, explaining that, for those developing projects on the higher end of things graphics-wise, the processing power of the 64GB cartridges isn't enough to make games work.
"If you compare that to an [SSD] drive and the speed you get from that when loading, it's inferior. So that's really the bigger problem when it comes to developing games, high-end games for the Switch 2, and what's possible with it," Hamaguchi stated in an interview with German outlet JPGames.
Hamaguchi reiterated that he understands the frustration that comes alongside Game Key Cards, but he hopes Nintendo fans eventually come to terms with the fact that this format could positively impact the Switch 2 third-party ecosystem.
Interestingly, massive projects like Cyberpunk 2077 have managed to fit in a physical cartridge. Granted, it was a game designed to be played on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (historical disastrous launch aside), but it's still an incredible technological feat the way CD Projekt Red managed to make it worth so smoothly in a portable handheld like the Switch 2.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake, on the other hand, is set to come out as a Game Key Card early in 2026. At the very least, some of the positives include that the game does not come with a full pricetag and with bonuses: if you pre-order the digital version, you'll get the original FF7 as well. For the physical edition, they'll throw in an MTG FF7-themed booster pack.
It's also worth mentioning that even if certain games are able to fit on cartridges, some developers may simply opt out of using them, as they come with a reported $15 manufacturing cost per cartridge.
Some developers like Supergiant Games are embracing the extra cost. Yes, the physical cartridge of Hades 2 will be more expensive than buying digitally, but it'll come with bonus physical goodies like a character booklet and reversible cover, plus a code to redeem the digital OST, thus making it a quasi-collector's edition.
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