Fans Claim Broken Promises After $70 Pokémon Pokopia Confirmed as First Nintendo-Published Game-Key Card Release

Pokémon Pokopia volition outgo $70 and lone beryllium disposable physically arsenic a Game-Key Card, it appears — thing that has stunned immoderate Nintendo fans.

Following confirmation of the game's March 5, 2026 merchandise day earlier today, store pages for the highly-anticipated Pokémon beingness simulation person present gone live, detailing its terms and presumption arsenic a Game-Key paper game.

In the U.S., Pokopia is disposable to pre-order present for $69.99. In Japan, meanwhile, Pokopia costs 8,980 yen — the aforesaid terms constituent arsenic Mario Kart World ($80 successful the U.S.), and much than different Nintendo-published titles specified arsenic Donkey Kong Bananza and adjacent Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Nintendo's Japanese website specifically lists Pokopia's carnal variation arsenic a Game-Key card, and portion the aforesaid accusation isn't shown successful the U.S., Nintendo has simulataneously published a YouTube video instructing users connected however "Game-Key Cards connected Nintendo Switch 2" enactment — which uses Pokémon Pokopia arsenic an example.

Game-Key Cards person proven arguable among Nintendo fans who dislike the information that the cartridges lone incorporate a punctual to download the game, alternatively than its afloat crippled data. That means you bash request to link your Switch 2 online aft buying the game, and past besides request to hold portion it downloads. However, Game-Key Cards disagree from integer downloads arsenic they tin inactive beryllium re-sold oregon shared with others — conscionable similar a regular crippled cartridge.

Nintendo antecedently stated that it had "no plans to usage Game-Key Cards for Nintendo-developed titles" — thing immoderate fans contiguous person pointed to arsenic a breached promise. But, of course, Pokémon is not a solely Nintendo-owned franchise and Nintendo does not make Pokémon games.

That said, Nintendo is publishing Pokémon Pokopia, and this does look to beryllium the archetypal Nintendo-published crippled offered connected a Game-Key Card. But this is besides a crippled developed by Koei Tecmo — which, past clip we checked, was not a Nintendo improvement studio.

Earlier today, Nintendo announced a caller trailer for Pokémon Pokopia volition debut aboriginal this week connected Thursday, November 13 astatine 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern, oregon 2pm UK. Eagle-eyed fans judge the video volition diagnostic implicit 10 minutes of gameplay — suggesting Nintendo is assured successful what it has to show.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social