Square Enix on FF7 Remake for Switch 2
Square Enix has explained that bringing *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* to Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 console would not be feasible without the use of "game-key cards." The company cited storage constraints and the high technical demands of the modern RPG as the primary obstacles. The statement highlights the ongoing challenges of platform fragmentation and hardware capabilities for multiplatform game releases.
- *Final Fantasy VII Remake* required over 100GB on the PlayStation 4, and the updated Switch 2 version is reported to have a file size between 95GB and 99GB. - For the Switch 2, Nintendo has reportedly limited its physical game card options to a maximum of 64GB, a significant reduction from the varied capacities available for the original Switch. This capacity is insufficient for the full *Final Fantasy VII Remake* game file. - "Game-key cards" function as a physical authentication key that initiates a mandatory download of the full game, rather than holding the game data on the card itself. This approach is similar to how many modern Xbox game discs work, requiring an internet connection. - This is not the first time Square has faced storage limitations with Nintendo hardware; the original *Final Fantasy VII* was developed for the Sony PlayStation after Square determined the Nintendo 64's cartridges couldn't hold the game's data. - The Switch 2 console comes with 256GB of internal storage, meaning the digital download for *Final Fantasy VII Remake* could take up more than 38% of the system's available space. - Other graphically demanding third-party games have been released on the original Nintendo Switch through cloud streaming, where the game is played on a remote server. This method avoids storage and hardware constraints but is dependent on a strong internet connection. - Titles from publishers like 505 Games (*Control*), IO Interactive (*Hitman 3*), and even Square Enix (*Kingdom Hearts* series) have used this "Cloud Version" model on the Switch.
