Nintendo reportedly blocks Game-Key Card releases from full-cartridge reprints

[ReasoningCore40]

A retailer has shed light on an unusual Nintendo rule. Nintendo Life reports that Canadian retailer Video Games Plus said it would like to reprint existing Switch 2 Game-Key Card releases as full cartridges, but cannot because a Nintendo policy prevents it

Game-Key Cards contain only a key to download the game rather than the full game data, which has frustrated collectors and anyone with limited internet. Video Games Plus said the policy exists for reasons that make sense and that Nintendo is not blocking publishers just for the sake of it, but did not explain the reasons. The posts have since been deleted

A deals account called Nintendeal added that a publisher would apparently need to submit a new build to move a game onto a full cartridge. Its example was that a publisher could release a complete edition on a full cartridge but could not simply re-release the base game

The comments followed news that Split Fiction's code in a box release would be upgraded to a Game-Key Card. Nintendo Life suggests the aim might be to avoid duplicate versions on shelves confusing buyers, particularly in the second hand market

Nintendo has not confirmed the policy, so this should be treated with some caution. If it is real, it means Game-Key Card games are unlikely ever to get simple full cartridge reprints. That will disappoint collectors who wanted the complete game on the cartridge

Do Game-Key Cards bother you? And should Nintendo let publishers reprint games as full cartridges?

Nintendo Apparently Has A Policy To Prevent Game Key Cards Getting A Full Cart Reprintwww.nintendolife.com