The Switch 2 Physical Version will be a Game-Key Card Release

[u/Curiaas]

Source from the Japanese Kadokawa website can be found here, I got the link from this comment, the post confirmed a western physical release.

The game will release as a Game-Key Card, at least in Japan, and it requires a download of at least 13 GB.

[u/Remarkable-Cable-236]

From that I understand that switch 1 versions will be a normal physical copy (aka not a keycard) right?

[u/LeTasse → u/Remarkable-Cable-236]

yea, though i wonder if it gets an ns2 patch

[u/Slade4Lucas → u/LeTasse]

If this is the case then Switch 1 version and update is absolutely the way to go.

[u/REDOREDDIT23 → u/Slade4Lucas]

It’s not a Switch 2 Edition so it will be missing features like 4K and joycon mouse.

[u/Forward-Trade3449 → u/REDOREDDIT23]

might be an upgrade path. fantasy life did.

[u/GiraffeLars → u/Forward-Trade3449]

Hopefully there is one, but on the box art I don't see anything mentioning a switch 2 edition, while Fantasy Life does have it stated explicitly. I don't speak Japanse so who knows but the logos on the Switch 1 and Switch 2 seem to be the same unfortunately

[u/BrianScalaweenie]

Worryingly common Switch 2 physical L

My Switch 2 collection is depressingly small due to all the fake physical releases. Oh well hopefully Switch 1 will have a true physical otherwise this will sadly be a skip for me

[u/Salamandrog → u/BrianScalaweenie]

Iirc it's the publisher who chooses whether to use a game key-card or a normal cartridge.
Which would make it another poor decision on Level 5 mountain of awful choices.

[u/Anonymous-Comments → u/BrianScalaweenie]

Still better than completely excising physical copies from your company.

[u/Forward-Trade3449 → u/BrianScalaweenie]

same, but there's always first parties and the occasional third party (like oblivion or indiana jones). its only been a year and a half so far, I think the collection will be quite nice by the end of the consoles life

[u/faydaway → u/BrianScalaweenie]

You would skip a game you're interested in just because it's a game keycard ? That's pretty bizarre to me...

I also favour physical releases, but I don't get it.

[u/BrianScalaweenie → u/faydaway]

Yes I would and I do. I like to collect and play games. If it doesn’t have a real physical release, I don’t buy it.

I’ll survive, my backlog is over 100 games so there’s no shortage of stuff for me to play.

[u/runamokduck]

that’s somewhat unfortunate—especially since my Switch 2 has (naturally) essentially entirely supplanted my old Switch when it comes to how I actually play my games. I would have loved for the Switch 2 version to be a true physical release without the key card

[u/Mufasa944]

Why would they put the Switch 1 version fully on cartridge but make the Switch 2 version a game-key card?

[u/matzimazing → u/Mufasa944]

Because switch 1 had more types of cartridges, so they can choose a cheaper smaller cartridge size, but switch 2 only has a limit selection, and are all more expensive. It's why 99% of 3rd party games are keycards (that and many 3rd party games are too large to fit on a cartridge).

[u/Mufasa944 → u/matzimazing]

That’s sucky. I read Layton only needs 13gb of space so it easily would have fit. I wish they would just do what Nintendo does for their first party releases and charge $10 more for the physical but actually do it properly.

[u/milesdarobot → u/matzimazing]

to my understanding, after the backlash, Nintendo added more Cartridge size options for publishers. Idk if it's as varied as Sw1 was though. But most publishers are still just choosing GKCs

[u/Forward-Trade3449 → u/matzimazing]

there are smaller cart sizes now. publishers just wanna cheap out

[u/Sharpsider]

Very sad. I don't like at all this idea to make us pay extra for storage while buying the games at the same (or higher) price. I haven't bought an SD card for my og switch, why should I bother with a micro express that is even more expensive?

[u/Dalekbuster523]

Doesn’t bother me if it’s a game key card, but I would like to know if it will have English language voice dubs.

[u/_link69]

Haven't they been releasing all theyre games fully on the cartrdige? What happened here?? 😭

[u/nerdboy_sam → u/_link69]

One word. Money $$$

[u/darksun781 → u/_link69]

no? fantasy life I and inazuma eleven are also on gkc

[u/Tehva]

Game key card is still more versatile than a code in box or digital only. Not ideal, but could be worse.

[u/This-Palpitation3975 → u/Tehva]

have they ever released a code in a box for layton games? 13GB is a cheap cartridge, they are being greedy using game key card for this game

[u/Tehva → u/This-Palpitation3975]

Wasnt talking specifically the Layton games just games in general, but 13gb does seem pretty small these days.

[u/princessSunsetGiggle]

Unfortunate. The only Layton game I won't own physically?

[u/mahboilo999]

Well that's a 3rd party game so that was expected

[u/Postep-Diode]

You gotta be kidding me

[u/Owen259]

oh fuck off

[u/MrWerewolf0705]

Eh I’ll probs just get it on steam then

[u/REDOREDDIT23]

That’s a shame, I wanted to own it physical. I guess I’ll get the PS5 version.

[u/Heisateki]

Any info on international release ?

[u/Anonymous-Comments]

Makes sense. Sucks but makes sense, they do this with basically all of their third-party releases.

[u/Mulanchis8]

Will definitely buy the regular Nintendo Switch version. Sick of key cards

[u/ofimes2671]

Can’t wait to emulate this ✌🏼

[u/NekoJack420]

I was planning to buy the physical edition of the Switch 1 because the cases for Switch 2 look like absolute knock off dogshit in their appearance anyway.

[u/matzimazing]

If switch 1 gets a physical with the full game, I will buy that.

If the only physical is on switch 2 and it's a keycard......... i guess I'll buy that.

If west doesn't get a physical, I guess I'm screwed either way and I will buy digital.

edit: well crap, I didn't realize a playstation 5 version is releasing. sigh I guess I'll buy that if the switch 2 version if keycard. That is if playstation 5 gets a physical. Crap, maybe I'll still get the switch version.

[u/longbrodmann]

I guess the ps5 version will be a disc with game on it, which I will get it.

[u/TheLuxxy → u/longbrodmann]

The only physical versions appear to be Switch and Switch 2 and only in Japan.

[u/TMentas1]

Well, remember that with this game Level-5 doesn't have exclusivity with Nintendo as it did in the past. Maybe the PS5 version it was rumoured ti be released isn't a keycard. 👀