Nintendo recently provided an in-depth look at the Nintendo Switch 2 during a comprehensive 60-minute Nintendo Direct. This presentation unveiled critical details about the upcoming console, including its price of $449.99 and a release date set for June 5, 2025. Alongside these announcements, a lineup of new games was showcased, generating excitement among fans. A significant revelation was the Switch 2's exclusive compatibility with microSD Express Cards, marking a departure from the storage options of its predecessor.
This shift to microSD Express Cards means that existing storage solutions won't be transferable to the new console. To expand your storage on the Switch 2, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards. Currently, SanDisk offers suitable options on Amazon, including a 128GB card for $44.99 and a 256GB card for $59.99.
Switch 2 Compatible### SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card
1$64.99 save 8%$59.99 at AmazonSanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card - $59.99 (was $64.99)SanDisk 128GB microSD Express Card - $44.99 (was $49.99)
The Nintendo Switch 2 boasts an impressive 256GB of internal storage, a substantial upgrade from the original Switch's 32GB. This enhancement suggests that immediate storage expansion might not be necessary for all users. However, it's important to consider that games designed for the Switch 2 could require significantly more space. For instance, while the acclaimed "Tears of the Kingdom" occupied 16GB on the original Switch, future titles like "Mario Kart World" may demand much larger file sizes.
Although the exact sizes of Switch 2 games remain undisclosed, it's reasonable to anticipate they will be larger than those on the original console. The Switch 2's exclusive use of microSD Express cards, as opposed to the original's support for standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards, underscores this shift towards accommodating bigger, more demanding games.
Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2? ---------------------------------Nintendo's decision to adopt microSD Express cards for the Switch 2 represents a significant technological advancement in portable storage. Traditional microSD cards, limited to 104 MB/s with the UHS-I interface, pale in comparison to microSD Express cards, which can leverage PCIe and NVMe technologies to achieve speeds up to 985 MB/s—nearly ten times faster. This speed enhancement is crucial for the Switch 2, ensuring it can manage larger and more resource-intensive games without performance issues.
However, this upgrade comes with a notable drawback: microSD Express cards are more expensive. While a 128GB standard SD card for the original Switch might cost around $10-15, a comparable microSD Express card is priced at approximately $45. Additionally, these cards are less commonly available, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them. Nintendo's move to microSD Express cards, while forward-thinking, means higher costs for expandable storage for users.
If you're planning to purchase a Nintendo Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, albeit pricier, memory cards. For a comprehensive overview of everything else showcased in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.
