The physical version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade for the Switch 2 will utilize a Game-Key Card format to enhance the game’s performance, according to director Naoki Hamaguchi. This detail emerged during a recent interview where he discussed the various contentious aspects of the upcoming port.

On September 12, Hamaguchi confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is set to debut on the Switch 2 as well as Xbox Series X/S. In conjunction with this announcement, Square Enix unveiled the physical edition’s box design, which notably lists the Switch 2 version as a Game-Key Card release. This led to a flurry of complaints from fans upon its revelation.

Game-Key Cards for Enhanced Loading Times

In an interview with JPGames, Hamaguchi justified the choice to use a Game-Key Card rather than a traditional cartridge. He argued that ‘high-end HD’ titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake encounter loading speed limitations when run from a cartridge. Therefore, by employing the internal flash storage, Game-Key Cards offer a faster, streamlined playing experience, allowing the game to be “digitized” while still maintaining a physical character.

Despite acknowledging the concerns raised by fans regarding the Game-Key Card format, Hamaguchi maintained that the reduction in loading time made the trade-off worthwhile. He stated, “[A cartridge] is going to be inferior, it just has to be; that’s how physical media works.”

The launch date for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2 is scheduled for January 22, 2026, coinciding with its Xbox Series X/S release. While Square Enix has indicated plans for further titles in the Final Fantasy 7 series to transition to these platforms, the next installment, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, has not yet received a release date for the Nintendo console.