Nintendo had a deep dive into the Switch 2 in a current super-sized 60-minute Nintendo Direct, revealing loads of new key data, together with the value of the console ($449.99), its launch date (June 5, 2025), and a complete slew of latest video games. What’s extra, it was confirmed that the Switch 2 will solely be appropriate with microSD Express Cards, with as much as 2TB cards supported.
This signifies that you received’t have the ability to deliver your outdated storage playing cards over if you decide up the console this summer season. To broaden your storage, you may want to take a look at the playing cards that SanDisk and Lexar have listed on Amazon, and that we have linked to under. This at the moment contains 128GB ($44.99), 256GB ($59.99), 512GB ($99.99), and 1TB versions ($199.99).
SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card
Lexar 1TB Play PRO microSDXC Express Card
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The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB of inner storage—a major improve from the unique Switch’s 32GB. That means you may not really feel the necessity to broaden your storage immediately. However, remember the fact that Switch 2 video games may very well be a lot bigger than these on the unique console.
For instance, one of many largest Switch video games, Tears of the Kingdom, was 16GB, however its Switch 2 model—and video games like Mario Kart World—may very well be much more demanding.
Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, for instance, is about to take up 64GB of area, 25% of your inner storage. While actual file sizes for different Switch 2 video games have not been confirmed, it is secure to imagine they will additionally eat a hefty chunk of storage. Unlike the unique Switch, which supported commonplace microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC playing cards, the Switch 2 will solely assist microSD Express playing cards.
Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2?
Nintendo is making an enormous change with the Switch 2’s storage growth. But why? MicroSD Express playing cards are an enormous leap ahead in transportable storage tech. While conventional microSD playing cards max out at 104 MB/s utilizing the UHS-I interface, MicroSD Express cards can use PCIe and NVMe technology to hit speeds of up to 985 MB/s—practically 10 occasions quicker.
Because of those velocity advantages, Switch 2 received’t assist common microSD playing cards. That means no utilizing your outdated Switch’s reminiscence card, except it’s a appropriate Express model. This ensures the system can deal with bigger, extra demanding video games with out slowdowns.
But, there is a massive draw back: They’re a lot pricier. Comparatively, a 128GB SD Card for Switch would cost you around $10-15, the place as the identical storage for an Express card looks to be about $45. Express microSD playing cards aren’t as extensively obtainable as commonplace microSDs, and types like SanDisk, Lexar, Samsung are among the many few making them. This signifies that whereas Nintendo’s transfer to microSD Express-only appears to be all about velocity and future-proofing, nevertheless it does put the upper prices for expandable storage on the person. Check out all the pieces else Nintendo needed to present throughout the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.
Robert Anderson is a offers skilled and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can observe him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
