summary
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Nintendo’s game key card technology allows you to physically release games, while requiring online downloads.
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However, the publisher behind the upcoming Rune Factory: Guardians of Azure has promised a full ROM release.
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This choice demonstrates the publisher’s commitment to physical media and provides the consumer with the best possible experience.
With the release of Switch 2, it’s a sad fact that physical gaming media lovers are getting punches in the gut. Nintendo’s new gaming key card technology allows developers to have physical cartridges, forcing consumers to download games from the internet.
Plus, to save a little money using digital gaming key cards, there are small loopholes that allow all games, regardless of whether they are a small GB or exceed the 64GB limit for physical cartridges. It appears that most third-party titles currently use this approach.
However, several developers who love physical media stand out by promises a complete game available in physical cartridges. Two ports, such as the Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt Red, have promised a fully optimized ROM-containing physical release of Switch 2.
Publisher Ken Berry, CEO of Marvelous USA, which publishes the Switch 2 release of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azure, in a recent interview with RPGSite.NET, explains that the decision to avoid key cards ultimately comes from dedication to the physical media.
Ken Berry first described his preference for physical media, explaining in an interview that he “didn’t buy the PS5 Pro until I was able to secure a disk drive add-on first.” This consumer-first approach is exactly what’s behind their physical release mindset.as he explains:
When I was very uncertain months ago, and still learning about how gaming keycard options work, it wasn’t an easy decision, but I thought fans would far prefer the ROM option as much as we found out about it.
Overall, most fans seem to prefer the cartridge ROM option, which allows the entire cartridge to be stored in the cartridge itself, rather than the keycards used by many other third-party developers.
All first-party Nintendo games will be full ROM releases, but it’s still a shame to know that most third-party developers have chosen other optionsespecially considering what happens when all the servers that download the game go offline.
Additionally, by selecting this option, you can also classify the game as a “Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced” edition. This means that it can also be played back on the original switch. This is a huge advantage for consumers.
When referring to previous releases, great USA publishers are known to include trinkets such as fan books, manuals, and printed inserts. As Berry has expressed, “The extra value in physical releases is always ingrained in DNA.”
In this era, it’s a treasure to see authentic developers that prioritize the quality of their fans’ products, even if they ultimately mean losing money in the long run.
If you’re interested in hearing about the story behind other releases by Marvelous USA, we highly recommend a full interview. Otherwise, Rune Factory: Azuma’s Guardians It will be released next month along with Switch 2.
