Some Copies of Splatoon 2 Don't Include a Cartridge

The video games industry is in the center of a transition from physical to digital download games. Not all gamers want this to happen as they prefer physical media, but the download market is growing. Nintendo is clearly aware of this divide among consumers, so an experiment is being carried out at the launch of Splatoon ii for the Switch.

According to Kotaku, when Splatoon two launches on July 21 consumers in Japan will have iii different physical buy options: standard, download version, and game card free version. Standard is your typical boxed copy with a cartridge inside, while the download version is a cardboard sleeve containing a download lawmaking.

The experiment involves that third card gratis version. Information technology's the standard retail box, but inside at that place is no game cartridge. Instead, Nintendo is including a download lawmaking. The reason for this is Nintendo realizes some gamers want the physical re-create of the game on their shelf, but want the convenience of a game they tin can play without having to insert a cartridge first.

While having this option may exist welcomed by some gamers, what nobody volition like is the price. Nintendo decided to offer all three versions for exactly the same price of vi,458 yen (about $58), trying to propose there'south no difference in the value on offer. I tend to disagree. Owning a game on a physical cartridge for Switch strikes me every bit existence worth more than a downloaded copy forever linked to a unmarried account.

For at present, this 3 version experiment is only being tried in Japan and merely for Splatoon 2. However, information technology's a game that's sure to be a big hit and therefore should requite Nintendo skilful feedback on whether card free games sell well.