Switch 2 Game-Key Cards Aren't Eligible For Japan's Preservation Library

"Game-Key Cards solely act as authentication keys, allowing the user to download the full game onto their console when inserted. The card must remain in the system in order to play the game, despite the game being installed, but the card can be shared or resold. Several third-party publishers utilize the medium for their Switch 2 releases, including Capcom, which considers its Game-Key Card titles as digital sales."

"Consumers, preservationists, and developers have raised concerns about the format, as ownership of these games is dependent on internet connection and whether Nintendo's eShop and servers are functional. Those concerned cite Nintendo's closure of the Wii U and 3DS eShops in March 2023, which rendered it impossible to purchase titles from those storefronts through any official means. Nintendo released a survey this month to its customers asking questions about their preferences for physical games."

Japan's National Diet Library will not recognize Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards for preservation because the games' data are not stored on the physical cards. The cards function solely as authentication keys that enable users to download games; the card must remain inserted to play even after installation, and cards can be shared or resold. Several third-party publishers, including Capcom, issue titles in the Game-Key Card format and treat those sales as digital. Concerns exist that ownership and access depend on internet connectivity and the continued operation of Nintendo's eShop and servers. The National Diet Library has collected physical video games since October 2000 and holds over 9,600 video games within a broader national collection of more than 44 million items.

Read at GameSpot