Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Weighs in on Switch 2 Game-Key Cards

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The debate around Nintendo Switch 2’s new game cards continues, and Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, has reiterated his concerns. Nintendo confirmed in April that Switch 2 games will use cartridges as physical keys to unlock digital downloads, sparking worry among fans, collectors, and those focused on game preservation. They’re concerned about truly owning games and the blurring lines between physical copies and digital versions, and Hamaguchi has now added to these discussions with further comments.

Nintendo executive producer Yoshinori Hamaguchi recently told Wccftech he’s in favor of Switch 2 game cartridges that would only hold a download key, letting players download the full game. He’s spoken up for these kinds of cards before, but his support is especially noteworthy now that the first Final Fantasy 7 Remake game is coming to the Switch 2 in January.

FF7 Rebirth’s Naoki Hamaguchi Thinks the Switch 2 Game-Key Card Is a “Really Amazing Idea”

Unlike fans speculating about the Switch 2’s game cards, Hamaguchi, who works in game development, has a realistic understanding of the situation that most players aren’t privy to. He shared this perspective when discussing the Switch 2 release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade with Wccftech at this year’s Tokyo Game Show.

When questioned about the possibility of faster cartridges for the next Nintendo Switch to handle large games such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Hamaguchi explained it would depend on the console’s hardware. He then strongly praised the game-key card system, calling it “a really amazing new idea” from Nintendo.

His support for game-key cards, as highlighted in a recent question from Wccftech, stems from comments he made in a September interview with JP Games. Hamaguchi explained that these cards would let developers offer more advanced games to Nintendo Switch owners, because they don’t require full downloads and allow for faster loading times. However, he also understands and acknowledges the concerns some fans have about this new technology, admitting there are valid points on both sides of the discussion.

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2025-10-21 05:33