Nintendo recently unveiled a wealth of exciting details about the Nintendo Switch 2 during a comprehensive 60-minute Nintendo Direct. The console is set to launch on June 5, 2025, with a price tag of $449.99. Alongside this, they announced a robust lineup of new games. A significant change for the Switch 2 is its exclusive compatibility with microSD Express Cards, meaning you won't be able to use your existing storage cards from the original Switch when upgrading to the new console this summer.
To expand the storage on your Switch 2, you'll need to purchase microSD Express cards. Currently, SanDisk offers compatible cards on Amazon, including a 128GB option priced at $44.99 and a 256GB option at $59.99. These cards are essential for managing your game library, especially given the larger file sizes anticipated for Switch 2 games.
The Nintendo Switch 2 boasts 256GB of internal storage, a substantial increase from the original Switch's 32GB. This upgrade might mean you won't need to expand your storage immediately. However, considering that Switch 2 games are expected to be larger—for instance, the Switch 2 version of "Tears of the Kingdom" and new titles like "Mario Kart World" may require significantly more space—it's wise to plan for future storage needs.
While the exact file sizes for Switch 2 games are yet to be confirmed, it's safe to anticipate they'll take up more space than games on the original console. Unlike its predecessor, which supported standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards, the Switch 2 will only accept microSD Express cards.
Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2?
Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express cards for the Switch 2 marks a significant shift in storage technology. MicroSD Express cards offer speeds of up to 985 MB/s using PCIe and NVMe technology, a vast improvement over the 104 MB/s maximum of traditional microSD cards using UHS-I. This enhanced speed ensures the Switch 2 can handle larger, more demanding games without performance issues.
However, there's a notable drawback: microSD Express cards are more expensive. For instance, a 128GB microSD card for the original Switch might cost between $10-15, while a similar capacity microSD Express card is priced around $45. These cards are also less common, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung currently producing them. Nintendo's shift to microSD Express is aimed at enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, but it does come with a higher cost for users looking to expand their storage.
If you're planning to purchase a Nintendo Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, yet pricier, memory cards. For a detailed look at everything announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.
