Overview

• The NDL stated that a key card on its own does not qualify as content and therefore falls outside its collection scope.
• Nintendo’s Game‑Key Cards act as activation licenses that require an eShop download, with no game data stored on the card.
• The library has preserved physical game CDs and cartridges since 2000 and currently holds more than 9,600 titles under archival conditions.
• Preservation advocates, including Nightdive’s Stephen Kick, warn the download‑dependent model risks long‑term access, citing past Wii, Wii U and 3DS store shutdowns.
• Concerns are heightened because many third‑party Switch 2 releases use key cards instead of full data cartridges, a trend linked to cost and manufacturing constraints.