Naoki Hamaguchi, co-director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, has publicly defended the importance of Game Key Cards for video game developers, emphasizing that this new format allows creators to overcome the limitations imposed by the physical cartridges of the upcoming Switch 2. In a recent conversation with Wccftech, Hamaguchi stated that Game Key Cards offer unique advantages that would otherwise not be available to developers working in the Nintendo ecosystem.
Will the new Final Fantasy only come in a Game Key Card?
The co-director also commented on concerns related to the loading speed of the Switch 2 cartridges, suggesting that this issue is more related to the hardware specifications of the device rather than the format of the Game Key Cards. “I can’t speak on behalf of Nintendo, but I think the Game Key Card format is a really innovative idea,” Hamaguchi said, sparking a debate about the direction Nintendo will take in this area.
However, Game Key Cards have sparked controversy, especially among communities advocating for the preservation of physical media. The reliance on a company to access games can compromise the future accessibility of these titles. Hamaguchi understood these concerns, but despite the controversy, he continued to emphasize that both Nintendo and developers must collaborate to promote this new format and ensure that players understand its implications in terms of costs and functionality.
The release of the Final Fantasy 7 remake is scheduled for 2026 and will be distributed in Game Key Card format, which will require considerable hard drive space of 90GB. While the future of the Switch 2 and its Game Key Cards remains uncertain, Hamaguchi is optimistic about the potential of this innovative system and its impact on the industry.
