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Nintendo recently provided a comprehensive look at the Switch 2 during a special 60-minute Nintendo Direct, unveiling crucial details such as the console's price of $449.99, its release date on June 5, 2025, and an array of new games. A significant announcement was that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion.
This means that when you purchase the Switch 2 this summer, you won't be able to use your existing storage cards. Instead, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards. Currently, SanDisk offers compatible options on Amazon, including a 128GB card priced at $44.99 and a 256GB card at $59.99.
The Nintendo Switch 2 comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, a substantial improvement over the original Switch's 32GB. This upgrade means you might not need to expand your storage immediately. However, be aware that games for the Switch 2 are expected to be larger than those for the original console. For instance, while "Tears of the Kingdom" was 16GB on the original Switch, its Switch 2 version, along with other anticipated titles like "Mario Kart World," could require significantly more space.
Although the exact file sizes for Switch 2 games have not been disclosed, it's reasonable to expect them to take up 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 cards for the Switch 2's storage expansion is a significant shift. MicroSD Express cards offer a major advancement in portable storage technology. Traditional microSD cards top out at 104 MB/s using the UHS-I interface, but microSD Express cards can leverage PCIe and NVMe technology to achieve speeds up to 985 MB/s—nearly 10 times faster.
This speed advantage is why the Switch 2 will not support regular microSD cards, ensuring the system can handle larger, more demanding games without performance issues. However, there's a notable drawback: microSD Express cards are more expensive. For instance, a 128GB SD Card for the original Switch might cost around $10-15, whereas the same storage capacity in an Express card is about $45. These cards are less common, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them.
While Nintendo's shift to microSD Express is aimed at enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, it does mean higher costs for expandable storage. If you're planning to get a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, albeit pricier, memory cards. For a comprehensive overview of everything Nintendo showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.
