Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director praises the Switch 2’s divisive Game Key Cards, calling them ‘a really fantastic idea for us developers’ because ‘I don’t personally see Nintendo working towards trying to improve the loading speed for the cartridges’
**Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Co-Director Praises Switch 2’s Game Key Cards as a “Fantastic Idea”**
Naoki Hamaguchi, co-director of *Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth*, has shared his positive outlook on the Nintendo Switch 2’s new Game Key Cards, describing them as “a really fantastic idea” for game developers. Despite the controversy surrounding these cards, Hamaguchi believes Nintendo will focus on popularizing the format rather than attempting to improve loading speeds on traditional cartridges.
### Game Key Cards: A New Physical Format for Switch 2
Game Key Cards represent a new way of distributing physical games on the Switch 2. Unlike conventional cartridges that contain the full game data, these cards only include a download key. Players must download the bulk of the game data from the internet after purchase. This approach has sparked mixed reactions among fans. Some worry that this signals a shift towards an entirely digital future for Nintendo, while others are concerned about the implications for game ownership since the full game data isn’t stored on the card itself.
### Hamaguchi Weighs In on Loading Speeds and Hardware Limitations
Commenting on the loading speed issues associated with Switch cartridges, Hamaguchi suggested that these stem primarily from the hardware specifications of the Switch 2 itself rather than the cartridge format.
> “Personally, I feel that the loading speed issue for the game cartridge is more about the hardware spec of the Nintendo Switch 2,” he said.
> “I’m not with Nintendo, so I can’t really speak to that side. That said, I do feel that the Game Key Card format that Nintendo created for the Nintendo Switch 2 is a really amazing new idea that they had offered for us.”
### Nintendo’s Focus on Popularizing Game Key Cards
Despite the criticism aimed at Game Key Cards, Hamaguchi believes Nintendo will prioritize promoting this new format over attempts to fix cartridge loading times.
> “I don’t personally see Nintendo working towards trying to improve the loading speed for the cartridges,” he added.
> “Rather, I feel that Nintendo will put more effort into popularizing the Game Key Card format, which again is a really fantastic idea for us developers.”
He also highlighted the role developers will play in helping players understand the costs and implications of using Game Key Cards.
> “We hope players familiarize themselves with what that costs them. That obviously is something we can help out with as well, from the developer side. I think that the collaborative effort between Nintendo and publishers trying to promote the Game Key Card will be the best way forward for all players in the future.”
### Addressing Criticism Around *Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth*’s Pacing
In a separate interview with ScreenRant, Hamaguchi addressed some of the criticism the *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* series has faced, particularly the perception that certain sections of *Rebirth* felt too long.
> “Regarding time management in certain sections, especially in FF7 Rebirth, I honestly don’t believe that they were longer than necessary,” he stated.
> “I feel like nowadays, players just have too much to do and too much to play; so they often feel the urge that something has to be concluded quickly.”
While he doesn’t fully agree with the complaints, Hamaguchi noted that the development team is mindful of player feedback moving forward.
> “As we work on the conclusion to the trilogy, we are striking a balance on how story arcs are told and spread out so as to ensure that the game feels a bit more concise.”
### Looking Ahead: The Final Installment in the *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* Series
Although no release date has been announced yet for the third and final installment of the *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* trilogy, development officially began in 2024, promising an exciting conclusion to the series fans have been following closely.
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https://www.techradar.com/gaming/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-director-praises-the-switch-2s-divisive-game-key-cards-calling-them-a-really-fantastic-idea-for-us-developers-because-i-dont-personally-see-nintendo-working-towards-trying-to-improve-the-loading-speed-for-the-cartridges
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