It is, but in a sense that it’s more strict to make new setups. Existing ones are going to contine to work as usual, but the new “Steam Families” is a thing now that replaces it and it has stricter conditions. Correct me if I’m wrong on that.

So you can’t have a “family” in another continent like you used to or whatever like that.

Is it really that much worse? Think about it long and hard.

Ewaste is a bigger problem than the inability to resell or trade digital games (in my opinion, at least). One can be solved fully digitally, while the other cannot.

Besides, Steam did it properly with Family Sharing when it was a thing.

This to me feels like Nintendo wants a stronger grip on digital key redistributions by adding a physical element into it to screw over key and account resellers. People are much less likely to sell a physical item when compared to a fully digital one.

Sending something physical is more time consuming and just more costly in general. I could always share a code via a message or an image to a friend, whereas with game cards I’d have to mail it over.

Now, only time will tell if game key cards will affect digital key sales (and their overall existence), but knowing Nintendo, it probably will.

And also - the whole point of “having a game catalog tied to your account fully digitally” is moot anyways if the game itself has to be downloaded anyway.