PSA: Octopath Traveler 0 on Nintendo Switch 2 is just a game key card

Announce Octopus Traveler 0 In yesterday's Nintendo partner Direct, some fans saw their excitement turned into thrill, as hearing news about the Nintendo Switch 2's physical version was just a game key card, not an actual physical game copy.

This information comes from All kinds of List Games across sales platforms, including Amazon, Best Buy and Square Enix's own website. All Nintendo Switch 2 versions at the bottom of the game display the “Game Key Card” indicator instead of a full box indicating the physical version. Even the $230 favorite version of the game is a game key card on the Nintendo Switch 2, but all other versions have physical versions.

The physical version of the Nintendo Switch 1 game is an actual physical card. However, this is also a disadvantage. As Explained on social platforms by Square EnixNintendo Switch 1 Edition cannot be upgraded to Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – There is no paid or otherwise path. This means that if someone wants to have a physical version of the game for Nintendo Switch 2, they either have to get the inferior Switch 1 Edition and process it or get stuck with the game key.

If you ask, “Who cares?” The answer is… a lot of people! The game key card is a physical card, but it does not actually contain the games on the card itself. Instead, the card has code to launch about the game download, meaning it is still a digital game.

This doesn't have to take the time to download it first for those with reasonable quality of digital ownership and those who get the full appeal of a physical copy of the game. The Switch 1 Edition is not even upgradeable, which is also annoying – what if someone wants to buy a game at launch, but later on, buy a Nintendo Switch 2? It's a mess.

Since its announcement, the game keycard has proven to be irritating to Nintendo fans. Some developers are not even excited about this concept. Especially considering its impact on game preservation.

However, Nintendo requirements They are especially suitable for games with larger file sizes and may be difficult to fit in ink cartridges, but this also comes with a larger, longer downloaded double-edged sword (Octopus Traveler 0 seems to be 5GB). As Daniel Ahmad, partner at Niko Research and Insights, said, they can help reduce the cost of the game. Cards are more expensive than discs, and key cards can help reduce costs while providing something that looks like a physical version for those who want it.

Reminder that when you build a console that relies on MicroSD Express Tech, the keycard will initially be most distributions

You either use a 64GB cart and price your game > $60 just to earn a similar type of margin on the PS5

Or use a key card + a lower price https://t.co/5ezvuonxol

— Daniel Ahmed (@zhugeex) July 31, 2025

Still, all of this is unfortunately exciting news yesterday. It also especially keeps Square Enix fans on alert, as the brave default 1 HD Remaster is also just a gaming key card. Has Square Enix pushed all of its Nintendo Switch 2 games toward this strategy? Perhaps including the newly announced Elliot adventure: The Millennium Story? We must wait and see.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior journalist at IGN. You can find her post on bluesky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Is there a story tip? Send it to [email protected].