One of the most contested elements of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 era might have notably aided at least one third-party title. Star Wars: Outlaws was recently adapted for Switch 2, after initially being limited to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series platforms. This ambitious adaptation is offered only in “game key card format” for those who favor physical versions, and according to Ubisoft developer Rob Bantin on Bluesky, it was essential for enabling the game to function on Switch 2 at all.

To provide context, game key cards are generally an unpopular medium for physical releases that Nintendo launched with Switch 2. They effectively serve as licenses for digital downloads housed on a cartridge, rather than having the game data on the cartridge itself. Many argue it is harmful to historical preservation (since Nintendo will ultimately deactivate those download servers), and the sole apparent advantage so far has been cost savings for game developers who refrain from using high-capacity cartridges for larger titles.

However, Bantin clarified that Ubisoft opted for this format for Outlaws not to reduce expenses but because developers encountered challenges in making the game operate satisfactorily on a standard cartridge due to technical complications with the Snowdrop engine that Outlaws utilizes. By employing a game key card, Ubisoft circumvented those restrictions.

“The Snowdrop engine depends significantly on disk streaming for its open-world settings, and we discovered that the Switch 2 cards simply didn’t deliver the performance we needed at the desired quality level,” Bantin stated. “I don’t remember the cost of the cards ever being part of the conversation – likely because it was inconsequential.”

This choice appears to have been fruitful. The Switch 2 version of Outlaws has been positively received by experts who evaluate games technically, such as Digital Foundry. The channel labeled it as an “extraordinary” port that preserves a visual quality comparable to the Xbox Series S version, including ray tracing features that seem nearly unachievable on Switch 2. Having experienced the game on PS5 and acknowledging the power difference between that console and Switch 2, it looks extremely impressive.

All the previously mentioned concerns regarding game key cards remain; however, in this instance, the format may have somewhat validated its existence.