Nintendo unveiled a wealth of new details about the Switch 2 during a recent 60-minute Nintendo Direct, including the console's price at $449.99 and its release date set for June 5, 2025. Alongside these announcements, Nintendo showcased a lineup of upcoming games and confirmed that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion.

This shift means that existing storage solutions from the original Switch won't be compatible with the new console. To enhance your storage, you'll need to purchase microSD Express cards, such as those currently available from SanDisk on Amazon. Options include a 128GB card for $44.99 and a 256GB version for $59.99.

Switch 2 Compatible### SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card

The Switch 2 comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, a substantial upgrade from the original Switch's 32GB. This might mean you won't need to expand your storage immediately. However, considering that Switch 2 games are expected to be larger, with titles like the Switch 2 version of Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Kart World potentially requiring more space, planning for additional storage might be wise.

While the exact file sizes for Switch 2 games remain unconfirmed, it's likely they will demand significant storage. Unlike its predecessor, which supported various types of microSD cards, the Switch 2 will only accept microSD Express cards.

Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express cards for the Switch 2 reflects a significant advancement in storage technology. Traditional microSD cards, limited to 104 MB/s via the UHS-I interface, are outpaced by microSD Express cards that utilize PCIe and NVMe technology to achieve speeds up to 985 MB/s—nearly ten times faster.

This speed advantage is why the Switch 2 will not support regular microSD cards. The use of microSD Express ensures that the console can efficiently handle larger and more demanding games without performance issues. However, there's a notable drawback: these cards are more expensive. For instance, a 128GB SD card for the original Switch costs around $10-15, while a similar capacity microSD Express card is priced at about $45.

Moreover, microSD Express cards are less common and primarily produced by brands like SanDisk and Samsung. While Nintendo's adoption of this technology is geared towards enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, it does increase the cost of expandable storage for users.

If you're considering purchasing a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, yet pricier, memory cards. For a comprehensive look at everything Nintendo showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, click here.