Nintendo recently unveiled an extensive look at the upcoming Switch 2 during a comprehensive 60-minute Nintendo Direct. This presentation was packed with exciting announcements, including the console's price of $449.99 and its eagerly anticipated release date of June 5, 2025. Alongside this, a lineup of new games was revealed, sparking enthusiasm among fans. A significant detail that emerged was the exclusive use of microSD Express Cards for storage expansion on the Switch 2. This means that if you're transitioning from the original Switch, you won't be able to use your existing storage cards with the new console.
To ensure you have ample space for your games, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards. Brands like SanDisk are already offering these on Amazon, with options such as a 128GB card priced at $44.99 and a 256GB card at $59.99. The Switch 2 itself boasts a significant storage upgrade, coming with 256GB of internal space, a leap from the original Switch's 32GB. This should suffice for initial use, but considering the potential for larger file sizes in Switch 2 games, additional storage might become necessary sooner than you think.
For instance, while the largest game on the original Switch, "Tears of the Kingdom," occupied 16GB, upcoming titles like "Mario Kart World" are expected to be much larger. Although specific file sizes for Switch 2 games remain unconfirmed, it's prudent to anticipate that they'll demand substantial storage. The shift to exclusively using microSD Express cards on the Switch 2 is a notable departure from the original console's support for standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards.
Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2?
Nintendo's decision to adopt microSD Express cards for the Switch 2 marks a significant upgrade in portable storage technology. Traditional microSD cards cap out at 104 MB/s using the UHS-I interface, whereas microSD Express cards leverage PCIe and NVMe technology, achieving speeds up to 985 MB/s—nearly ten times faster. This switch to microSD Express ensures that the console can efficiently handle larger, more demanding games without performance hiccups.
However, this advancement comes with a catch: microSD Express cards are more expensive. For example, a 128GB SD card for the original Switch might cost around $10-15, while a microSD Express card of the same capacity could set you back about $45. Additionally, microSD Express cards are less common in the market, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them. While Nintendo's move to microSD Express is geared towards enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, it does mean higher costs for expandable storage.
If you're planning to get the Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, albeit pricier, memory cards. For a deeper dive into everything Nintendo showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.
