Nintendo recently unveiled a wealth of exciting details about the upcoming Switch 2 during a comprehensive 60-minute Nintendo Direct. Key highlights include the console's price, set at $449.99, and its eagerly awaited release date on June 5, 2025. The presentation also introduced a plethora of new games and confirmed that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion.

This shift to microSD Express means you won't be able to use your existing storage cards when you upgrade to the Switch 2 this summer. To increase your storage capacity, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards. Currently, SanDisk offers compatible options on Amazon, including a 128GB card for $44.99 and a 256GB card for $59.99.

Switch 2 Compatible SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card

1$64.99 save 8%$59.99 at Amazon
SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card - $59.99 (was $64.99)
SanDisk 128GB microSD Express Card - $44.99 (was $49.99)

The Nintendo Switch 2 boasts an impressive 256GB of internal storage, a substantial increase from the original Switch's 32GB. This upgrade might mean you won't need to expand your storage immediately. However, given that Switch 2 games are expected to be larger, with titles like the Switch 2 version of Tears of the Kingdom and new releases like Mario Kart World potentially demanding more space, you may eventually need additional storage.

Although exact file sizes for Switch 2 games haven't been disclosed yet, it's likely they will require significant storage. Unlike the original Switch, which supported standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards, the Switch 2 will only support microSD Express cards.

Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2?

Nintendo's decision to adopt microSD Express for the Switch 2 represents a significant advancement in portable storage technology. Traditional microSD cards, which max out at 104 MB/s using the UHS-I interface, are outpaced by microSD Express cards, which leverage 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 only support microSD Express cards, ensuring the system can efficiently handle larger, more demanding games without performance issues. However, there's a notable downside: these cards are more expensive. A 128GB microSD card for the original Switch costs around $10-15, while a microSD Express card of the same capacity is priced at about $45. Additionally, microSD Express cards are less widely available, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them.

While Nintendo's move to microSD Express aims to enhance speed and future-proof the console, it does increase the cost of expandable storage for users. If you're planning to purchase a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, albeit pricier, memory cards. To get a comprehensive look at everything else Nintendo showcased during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.