Nintendo provided an in-depth look at the upcoming Switch 2 during a recent 60-minute Nintendo Direct, unveiling crucial details such as the console's price at $449.99, its release date set for June 5, 2025, and an exciting lineup of new games. A significant announcement was that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion, meaning you won't be able to use your existing storage cards with the new console.
To expand your storage on the Switch 2, you'll need to purchase microSD Express cards. Currently, SanDisk offers options on Amazon, including a 128GB card for $44.99 and a 256GB card for $59.99. The Switch 2 itself comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, a substantial increase from the original Switch's 32GB, which might suffice initially. However, considering that Switch 2 games are expected to be larger than those on the original console, additional storage might become necessary sooner than you think.
For instance, while 'Tears of the Kingdom' on the original Switch was 16GB, its Switch 2 counterpart, along with other anticipated titles like 'Mario Kart World', could demand significantly more space. Although exact file sizes for Switch 2 games remain undisclosed, it's reasonable to anticipate they will require substantial storage. Unlike the original Switch, which supported a range of microSD cards, the Switch 2 will only accept microSD Express cards.
So, why the shift to microSD Express for the Switch 2? This decision reflects a major advancement in portable storage technology. Traditional microSD cards top out at 104 MB/s with the UHS-I interface, whereas microSD Express cards leverage PCIe and NVMe technology to achieve speeds up to 985 MB/s—nearly ten times faster. This speed boost is crucial for the Switch 2 to handle larger, more demanding games without performance hiccups.
However, there's a notable downside: microSD Express cards are more expensive. 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, these cards are less common, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them. While Nintendo's move to microSD Express aims at enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, it does mean higher costs for expandable storage.
If you're planning to purchase a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, yet pricier, memory cards. For a comprehensive overview of everything showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.
