Japan`s National Diet Library, a prominent global archive, has declared that Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards will not be accepted for preservation. The library, which already boasts a collection of over 9,600 video games, clarified its stance by explaining that titles in the Game-Key Card format are ineligible because the actual game data is not stored directly on the physical card itself.
In an interview with Famitsu (as reported by Automaton), representatives from the National Diet Library stated that a “key card, on its own, does not constitute content” and therefore “falls outside the library`s scope for collection and preservation.”
These Game-Key Cards function primarily as authentication devices, enabling users to download the complete game onto their console upon insertion. Although the game is installed, the card must remain in the system for gameplay. This format allows for the sharing or resale of the physical card. Several third-party publishers, including Capcom, employ this method for their Switch 2 releases and categorize these Game-Key Card titles as digital sales.
The format has drawn criticism from consumers, preservationists, and developers alike. Concerns center on the long-term viability of game ownership, which becomes reliant on a persistent internet connection and the continued functionality of Nintendo`s eShop and servers. Critics often reference Nintendo`s decision to shut down the Wii U and 3DS eShops in March 2023, which made it impossible to acquire titles from those platforms through official channels. Nintendo recently polled its customers on their preferences regarding physical game media.
The National Diet Library, akin to the United States` Library of Congress, initiated its collection of physical video games in October 2000. Its vast holdings, encompassing books, newspapers, music, maps, and other diverse materials, total more than 44 million items, positioning it as the eighth-largest library worldwide.
It is noteworthy that while the National Diet Library maintains an extensive digital collection, including e-books and magazines, it does not currently include any video games that are exclusively digital or online-only.