In a recent, comprehensive 60-minute Nintendo Direct, Nintendo unveiled a wealth of details about the upcoming Switch 2, including its price of $449.99 and a release date set for June 5, 2025. Alongside a lineup of new games, it was revealed that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion, marking a significant departure from the original Switch's storage options.
This shift means that your existing microSD cards won't be compatible with the Switch 2. To increase your storage capacity, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards. Currently, SanDisk offers options on Amazon, such as a 128GB card for $44.99 and a 256GB card for $59.99.
Switch 2 Compatible### SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card
The Switch 2 boasts an internal storage of 256GB, a substantial upgrade from the original Switch's 32GB. While this might suffice initially, it's worth noting that Switch 2 games are expected to be larger. For instance, while "Tears of the Kingdom" on the original Switch was 16GB, its Switch 2 counterpart, along with titles like "Mario Kart World," could demand significantly more space.
Although the exact file sizes for Switch 2 games remain undisclosed, they're likely to require considerable storage. Unlike the original Switch, which supported standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards, the Switch 2 will only work with microSD Express cards.
Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2? ---------------------------------Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express for the Switch 2's storage expansion is a notable change. MicroSD Express cards utilize PCIe and NVMe technology, achieving speeds up to 985 MB/s—nearly ten times faster than the 104 MB/s maximum of traditional microSD cards using the UHS-I interface. This upgrade ensures the system can handle larger, more demanding games without performance issues.
However, there's a significant drawback: microSD Express cards are more expensive. A 128GB microSD card for the original Switch might cost around $10-15, whereas a similar capacity microSD Express card is priced at approximately $45. Additionally, these cards are less common, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them. While Nintendo's move to microSD Express is focused on speed and future-proofing, it does mean higher costs for expandable storage.
If you're planning to get a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster yet pricier memory cards. For a comprehensive overview of everything else Nintendo showcased during the Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.
