When Nintendo announced the Switch 2, one of the loudest complaints that stemmed from the newest console was the arrival of Game Key Cards. Many fans of physical media decried this approach, refusing the accept Game Key Cards as true physical media. Moreover, there were worries that Nintendo has begun to abandon physical media and favor digital games like Microsoft (and Sony a little bit) has. However, despite the fact it exists in Game Key Card format, Pokémon Pokopia “physicals” has been selling out like hot cakes. Has this Pokémon spin-off proven that the outcry about Game Key Cards was just another complaint from the loud minority? Did this game’s high demand prove that gamers will still buy “physical” games despite the fact they are Game Key Cards?
The significance of Game Key Cards will ultimately be determined by sales. The Switch 2 released June 2025, and the initial line-up has been modest at best. Nintendo first-party titles enjoy the benefit of full game in the cartridge, but many third-party games made for the Switch 2 were published in Game Key Card format. While the debate about Game Key Cards has died down a little bit, we haven’t received much data about its impact…until perhaps now.
Pokémon Pokopia is a spin-off title by a collaboration between The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, and Koei-Tecmo. It released a few days ago on March 5th and received one of the highest ratings in the franchise. Moreover, its physical copies flew off the shelves. While it’s too soon to know the hard sales numbers, it was clear the demand was high when large retailers started selling sold out. Quicky. Amazon reportedly raised prices to $80 USD as well. Of course, it is important to consider whether these retailers were provided with lower-than-anticipated supply, but given that it’s a Pokémon game, I find that hard to believe that would be the sole contributor to why the physicals kept selling out. The digital copy is always available, and yet, there was still a clear demand.
There actually was another prior example, Resident Evil Requiem; however, I attributed that at first to the hype of a major franchise that not only featured a celebrated character but also honored its 30th anniversary. The high demand for physical pre-orders and sales also spanned across both Nintendo and PlayStation consoles. Of the five million in sales during the first week of launch, 38,793 units belonged to the Switch 2. Not bad.
In the end, without hard numbers, it’s hard to back my personal thoughts that Game Key Cards aren’t going to kill physical media anytime soon. I do feel that Resident Evil Requiem, and more so, Pokemon Pokopia, are strong examples that people are still willing to buy games that are Game Key Cards, despite that many gamers argue they are not “true physicals”.
Was the Game Key Card ire-fest all blown out of proportion? Only time will tell, but so far, Pokemon Pokopia is a barometer that the desire for “physical” games is still on consumers’ minds.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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