Why Are Game-Key Cards So Controversial?

[Darwinianevolution]

firebush03 said:

Darwinianevolution said:

If I get a regular cartridge for my Switch after the servers go down, I can still play the game. Maybe I don't get all the updates, but I still have a playable version.

If I get a game key kart for the Switch 2 after the servers go down, I have nothing but a piece of plastic.

What evidence do you have of this? Precedent shows that these companies will honor a digitally purchased copy even after servers go permanently down, so it would make sense for this practice to carry over to GKCs. Do you have any reason to reject this?

Do you remember the Wiiware digital store? Do you remember the DSi ware store? They were primitive and the games they had were very small, but they existed. And now, if I want to redownload "Megaman 9" for my Wii, I cannot. The WiiU and 3DS stores cannot purchase new games, so being unable to download anything anymore is coming.

Digital services go down, it happens. That's why physical ownership is so important. You cannot honor a digital purchase if the servers are down. Unless you have a backup, you lose access to the game forever in any official way.