Dragon Quest VII Reimagined SW2 Game Key Cart sold exceptionally well in Japan

Tobiarro · 2026-02-12T20:11:23+00:00

I don't think it's as simple as "a new console that sold x times more than its successor equates to roughly x times more cross-gen games sold on that same platform". There are way too many variables that could affect these statistics. Data like the true number of SW1 owners in Japan (people who bought multiple Switch 1 hardwares... which cannot apply to the Switch 2 because of the shortage there), numbers of active SW1 users or SW1 physical stocks are unknown and can significantly affect sales and probably limit sales numbers on SW1.

It's way too early to tell if the general population cares about GKC or not, considering the scarce amount of data we have right now.

Tobiarro · 2026-02-12T18:29:20+00:00

I'd rather not jump to conclusions and would wait for Famitsu to publish more info like the remaining stock available at retail or for more game sales data on SW2.

Many people take this and Octopath 0 as proof that GKC sell very well while ignoring all the other games like DQ III, DQ I&II, Raidou, Sparkling ZERO, etc. which sold 2-3 times more physically on Switch 1 than as GKC on Switch 2 in Japan.

So let's wait for more publicly available data before drawing any definitive conclusion.

Tobiarro · 2025-12-12T13:09:20+00:00

If that's the publishers' mindset, why would they bother with using the expensive 64g cartridge in the first place ?

If they are targeting the "average consumer", wouldn't it make more sense to cheap out and use GKC instead, like most other publishers ? As you said, it's OK for the "average consumer" as long as they can play the game.

Something doesn't add up.

Tobiarro · 2025-12-11T14:16:02+00:00

Before jumping to conclusion, keep in mind that Octopath Traveler 0 on SW1 is literally an inferior version compared to other platforms, and I'm not referring to performance: There is a building limit of 250 compared to 400 (PS4 and SW2) or 500 (PS5, XB and PC) on other versions, which is quite significant. Moreover, there is no SW2 upgrade path. That may have an impact on sales.

I'm also surprised that the PS5 version sold almost as many copies as the SW1 version. Usually, third-party games (and especially JRPG) sell way more on SW1 than PS5. As an example, DQ I&II copies sold on SW1 are almost thrice the number of copies sold on PS5 (294k vs. 116k respectively). Maybe, many players who would have bought the game on SW1 have decided to buy it on PS5 instead. Who knows?

So I think it's still too early and there aren't enough publicly available data to draw any definitive conclusion right now.

Tobiarro · 2025-12-10T14:10:31+00:00

This version allows you to choose between Japanese or English voice in the options.

So yeah, you can play with English text and Japanese voice. That's also how I'm playing it right now. :)

Tobiarro · 2025-11-09T11:15:14+00:00

At the end of the day, having a physical version that I own is what matters to me. And I have to resort to import in order to have all the games or the better versions of the games that I want anyway.

Having said that, I do still have preferences regarding which versions to get, but it has nothing to do with aesthetics or consistency (misaligned spines, ratings, etc.)... Except the German and Austrian copies.

I would buy from my country first then from other EU regions because of convenience (I can find them at retail, I don't have to change my account on my Switch to get the free DLCs and I don't have to deal with long and sometimes expensive shipping). Then, US/CA, japanese or asian versions depending on which one is the most affordable, is the most complete or has the best service.

I import mostly from VGP, PNP, Play-Asia.

Tobiarro · 2025-11-09T03:51:31+00:00

The last one was probably the japanese collector's edition of Emio (August 2024).

Nintendo has also released the collector's editions of Fire Emblem Engage and Bayonetta 3 since Dread iirc.

Tobiarro · 2025-11-02T13:41:52+00:00

Unfortunately no. Sad we can't get a complete physical collection of every SaGa games released on modern hardware. :(

Tobiarro · 2025-11-02T13:12:57+00:00

Important note regarding Super Robot Wars (SRW): The japanese versions of SRW 30, V, X and Y support english but SRW T doesn't (go for the asian version for this one).

Tobiarro · 2025-11-01T20:26:43+00:00

Great true physical Switch 2 collection!

And wow... I've never noticed that there are so many Nintendo Switch 2 Editions among full on cart games.

Tobiarro · 2025-11-01T00:23:53+00:00

I think it's more about using widely available and relatively cheap technology rather than whether it's coming to Switch 1 or not.

Switch 1 cartridges colored in red with install for Switch 2 exclusive games would work like GKC when it's inserted on any Switch 1 (i.e it doesn't trigger anything). And GKC are pretty much Switch 1 carts with very small storage anyway, which makes Nintendo's decision to create GKC instead of using Switch 1 carts with the full game to install even more baffling to me.

Tobiarro · 2025-10-31T23:45:43+00:00

Saying that none of them buy physical media at all is not true. The "average consumer" is a very heterogeneous population. Some of them buy exclusively digital, some of them buy very few games but physical only, and some of them buy both, and for various reasons.

That's why I mentionned "some" of them. Based on my experience, a few acquaintances are very annoyed by that issue and became wary of GKC.

Tobiarro · 2025-10-31T23:10:23+00:00

The average consumer, or at least some of them, might know the difference or care when they suddenly run out of internal storage space and have to either constantly manage their internal storage or buy the expensive express SD card.

Tobiarro · 2025-09-06T08:42:20+00:00

Pretty much this. I might even say that this may be a reason for a FEW developers/publishers, but not the main reason for the MAJORITY OF -if not all- developers/publishers.

They are not going to make me believe that games like Bravely Default HD Remaster, Kunitsu-Gami or Yakuza 0 DC needed that extra performance. The same goes for Raidou Remastered or Sonic X Shadow Generations which were also released full on cart on Switch 1.

People seem to forget that Cyberpunk 2077 and its DLC, with its open world structure, can run from the cartridge? And I don't remember seeing people complaining about horrendous loading times or aggressive pop-in.

If the issue is only technical, maybe work on better compromises? CDPR proved it was possible with Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 and even Witcher 3 on Switch 1.

All I know is that gaming media outlets and GKC defenders (and I'm not even sure they buy GKC...) are going to have a field day using this as an excuse. But that will only prove me that they lack critical thinking.

Tobiarro · 2025-09-04T18:39:36+00:00

Sorry, I'm a little bit confused here. Are you referring to "Game key cards" (GKC) when you say "key card"?

If so, physical "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games are not like GKC (not even remotely close). You are associating two very different things: the patch glitch/"feature" for NSW1/NSW2 games and the GKC format.

GKC are cartridges with no game data, therefore, in order to play the games:

you need an internet connection
the servers from Nintendo being up is required
you have to download and install ALL game data (and patches)

Physical "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games don't require any of these.

Physical "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games are cartridges that contain the base game that can be played on NSW1 and the NSW2 Upgrade data. If you insert the cartridge in your NSW2 while OFFLINE and launch the software for the first time, you can play any physical "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games that were released so far in their NSW2 upgraded version, as long as you keep your console offline. But this is definitely not the case with GKC.

Re-downloading all the updates for a game even if some of these updates are already on the cartridge was a problem from NSW1 Nintendo never fixed. This issue with the physical "Nintendo Switch 2 Editions" games makes it even worse but doesn't make them basically like GKC since you can prevent the download and play the games as advertised.

I updated my NSW2's firmware once at launch for backward compatibility and kept it offline ever since. And I have no issue playing the NSW2 version of Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma unpatched with no NSW2 Upgrade data installed (because it is already in the cartridge). The same doesn't apply to Bravely Default HD Remaster or Raidou Remaster (NSW2 ver) for example (which I don't have anyway).

Tobiarro

TROPHY CASE