In a recent 60-minute Nintendo Direct, Nintendo unveiled a wealth of details about the upcoming Switch 2, including its price of $449.99 and its release date set for June 5, 2025. Alongside these announcements, they showcased a variety of new games and confirmed that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion.
This means that if you're planning to upgrade to the Switch 2 this summer, you'll need to leave your old storage cards behind. To expand your storage, you'll have to opt for microSD Express cards. SanDisk currently offers suitable options on Amazon, including a 128GB card for $44.99 and a 256GB card for $59.99.
SanDisk microSD Express Cards for Switch 2
- SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card - $59.99 (was $64.99)
- SanDisk 128GB microSD Express Card - $44.99 (was $49.99)
The Switch 2 comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, a substantial leap from the original Switch's 32GB. This upgrade means you might not need to expand your storage immediately. However, considering that games for the Switch 2 could be significantly larger than those for the original, it's worth planning ahead.
For instance, "Tears of the Kingdom" occupied 16GB on the original Switch, but the Switch 2 version and other upcoming titles like "Mario Kart World" may require much more space. While exact file sizes are yet to be confirmed, it's clear that these new games will demand considerable storage.
Unlike its predecessor, which supported standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards, the Switch 2 will only accept microSD Express cards. This shift is significant and requires attention from potential buyers.
Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2?
Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express cards with the Switch 2 marks a significant upgrade in storage technology. Traditional microSD cards cap at 104 MB/s using the UHS-I interface, whereas microSD Express cards leverage PCIe and NVMe technology to reach speeds up to 985 MB/s—almost ten times faster.
This speed advantage is crucial for the Switch 2, enabling it to handle larger and more demanding games without performance hiccups. However, there's a notable drawback: microSD Express cards are more expensive. For example, a 128GB SD card for the original Switch might cost around $10-15, while a similar capacity microSD Express card is priced at about $45.
Additionally, microSD Express cards are not as widely available, with brands like SanDisk and Samsung being among the few manufacturers producing them. While this move by Nintendo focuses on enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, it does result in higher costs for expandable storage.
If you're gearing up to purchase a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, yet pricier, memory cards. For a comprehensive overview of everything Nintendo revealed during the Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.
