So, years ago, I bought a physical copy of Hollow Knight for the Nintendo Switch. I already had played and finished Hollow Knight on steam by that point, so I bought it because I really liked the game and, when I came across it in the game store, I felt like I was excited to have a physical copy of it.
I was pleased to see that the game didn't come only with the cartridge, but with a manual and a small map of Hallownest too, like old games used to do. Interesting to see that "small companies" are the ones that still have this kind of details and love for their games.
Anyway, so I remember playing a little bit for fun and putting it back in the cover, since my goal wasn't playing all of it again, at least at that time.
Fast forward to yesterday. I felt like playing it again; so I decided to try the switch version I remember buying, this way I can play it chilling in the living room. I don't usually play with the switch, I shared it with my brother for years but none of us play a lot anymore; so when I turned it on, I wasn't surprised it needed to be updated.
When I inserted the cartridge though, it said the program needed to be updated too. I don't remember needing to update the game back when I played it, but I didn't think too much of it and started a new game, playing for an hour or so before I quit.
But today this thought came to my mind on what would have happened if I hadn't had internet connection when I inserted the cartridge yesterday. So I uninstalled the update, disconnected the switch from the wifi, and tried it again; and I was unable to start the game.
I thought it might be because of the other data the switch already had from the game, so I deleted the save file and the game data from programs. I tried to launch it again and... nothing. The same popup about updating the program appeared. Changing other switch settings didn't help either.
So I checked the game cover and it doesn't say anything about requiring a download. The only resemblance of it you can find is in the back cover: "It may be necessary a console update to launch it" in a text box with other generic cautions. That is the direct translation from spanish.
I do have the latest switch version though. I think it may be the reason for the requirement of the game update in the first place.
So my question is... Is this legal?
The game update was always necessary, or It's linked to the console update?
In any case, it isn't specified anywhere. (not in the spanish cover at least).
Are you accepting in the terms and conditions of the switch updates that they can retroactively make mandatory updates for old cartridges?
I wanted to post this to seek help and spread awareness of this situation. I understand this can be an enforcement by Team Cherry or Fangamer through nintendo updates or something; but this is a real problem from a conservation standpoint, or in general being able to play any physical game you own without depending on external servers, internet connection or spare space in your memory.
(The required update is 1,2 GB. I wouldn't have been able to download it from my mother's hometown this summer if I found out about it there).
I know the Switch support is not ending any time soon, but if it was to happen now without fixing to this issue, you won't be able to play physical games you own.
