“Historically, we’ve been very agnostic, right? We go off what the consumer prefers, and take that into account very heavily. We also have a platform that was just launched. We’re barely just over a year into NS2. It’s got both digital and physical – that capability. There’s no plans to ditch physical. We know how much the fans like it as well, so our position has been to be agnostic.”
Yeah, you’re right. I’m aware. I’m just saying that even if it was contracted out to a different studio, anything “Pokémon” should count the same as their “first party” rule when it comes to game keycards.
I’d expect the same if they outsourced a Zelda game like with Cadence of Hyrule
Edit; I think I came across as unclear and as if I avoided the point. Sorry. The original post is correct, as are you for pointing it out. I don’t disagree with either of you. I disagree with Nintendo. It shouldn’t just be first party games. It should also be Nintendo exclusives or at least Nintendo IP, I think.
Ideally no games are key cards, but if they MUST BE, then I don’t think it’d be unreasonable to cast a slightly wider net than strictly first party. Pokopia could easily have been included