Square Enix Says Switch 2 Cartridges Are Too Slow and Small for FFVII Remake

Overview

• Game director Naoki Hamaguchi said internal storage reads roughly twice as fast as a cartridge, making Game Key Cards the only workable option on Switch 2.
• Because the remake continuously streams data during gameplay, loading from a cartridge would cause noticeable strain for players and harm performance.
• Hamaguchi noted current cartridge capacities are insufficient to hold the full game, reinforcing the need for a download‑based approach.
• On Switch 2, Game Key Cards act as physical proof of ownership but require players to download the game to the console’s high‑speed storage.
• Square Enix is developing Part 3 with a PC‑first, scale‑down strategy, and other studios have cited similar performance reasons for choosing key cards on Switch 2.