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Nintendo Switch 2 is coming with an impressive gaming lineup. From Super Mario games to The Legend of Zelda, the list includes loads of massively popular Nintendo franchises. Some third-party games are also on the list as day-one releases with the console, and Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 is among them.
Released in 2023, Street Fighter 6 is the latest entry in Capcom’s highly acclaimed fighting game series. The news of it getting its Nintendo Switch 2 version has sparked excitement among Street Fighter fans. Notably, this version is set to launch with the console on June 5, but there’s a catch that spoiled all the hype.
The massive success of Street Fighter 6 makes it one of the highlights of Nintendo Switch 2’s day-one releases. Now, leakers have pointed out that the DLC of the game will come with a Game-Key Card. But that’s not everything. There’s still a catch. Its DLC version will be a code-in-a-box that will expire after a certain time, in that case, it’s two years.
It’s not the first Nintendo Switch 2 game that will come with a Game-Key Card. Instead, most Switch 2 titles will be the same. They will come with a Game-Key Card, and not with a Physical Disc. However, Capcom has taken it further and decided to put Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition on a code that will last for only two years.
This means gamers who will purchase the game in 2027 or later, won't get the chance to have the DLC characters. A latest X post (formerly Twitter) by Genji_JPN has highlighted this fact and stated, “The Japanese box says the Years 1-2 DLC for Street Fighter 6 Fighters Edition is a code in a box that expires 2 years from release. This is on top of the base game being a Game-Key card.”
Notably, the Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition includes eight characters. Four from Year 1 which includes Rashid, A.K.I., Ed, and Akuma. Year 2 characters include, M. Bison, Terry, Mai, and Elena. Whether it will really be the case or not isn’t yet sure. It is still recommended that players should download these characters as soon as possible to avoid the fear of losing.
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The Game-Key Card for Nintendo Switch 2 contains a physical cartridge of a game along with a digital license, instead of full game data. When players insert it into the Switch 2, it will allow the console to download the complete game from the internet. This approach makes larger games that exceed storage capacity easy to download.
The most interesting part is these one-time-use digital codes aren’t tied to specific Nintendo consoles. This essentially means that these codes can be borrowed, resold, or traded to offer more flexibility than standard digital purchases.
The introduction of Game-Key Cards marks a significant shift in how physical games are generally distributed to players. These cartridges come with two of the most substantial advantages: first players can borrow or sell them and second this blurs the line between physical and digital ownership.
However, these cartridges require a stable internet connection for the initial set up which may create challenges for some players who have limited internet access.
Street Fighter 6’s release on the Nintendo Switch 2 highlights the rapidly evolving gaming landscape where the game distribution is taking a new turn with the release of Switch 2. While the Game-Key cards provide gamers with flexibility and reduce purchase costs, it also introduces the challenges regarding game preservation and accessibility. If Nintendo Switch 2 executes this format successfully, it will become a regular strategy for developers for future game distribution.
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