"Switch 2 microSD Express Cards: 128GB for $45"

Nintendo recently unveiled a wealth of exciting details about the upcoming Switch 2 during a comprehensive 60-minute Nintendo Direct. Among the highlights were the console's price, set at $449.99, its eagerly awaited release date of June 5, 2025, and an array of new games. Additionally, Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion, meaning gamers won't be able to use their existing storage solutions with the new console.

To prepare for the Switch 2, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards. SanDisk, a leading brand, currently offers these cards on Amazon, including a 128GB option for $44.99 and a 256GB option for $59.99. These cards are essential for expanding your storage, especially since the Switch 2 comes with a significant upgrade of 256GB of internal storage compared to the original Switch's 32GB.

While the internal storage boost is substantial, the increasing size of Switch 2 games suggests that additional storage might become necessary. For instance, while "Tears of the Kingdom" on the original Switch required 16GB, future titles like "Mario Kart World" could demand significantly more space. Although exact file sizes for Switch 2 games remain undisclosed, it's clear they will require more storage than their predecessors.

Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express cards exclusively is driven by the technology's superior performance. Traditional microSD cards are limited to 104 MB/s, whereas microSD Express cards can achieve speeds up to 985 MB/s, thanks to PCIe and NVMe technology. This leap in speed is crucial for handling the larger, more demanding games on the Switch 2 without experiencing slowdowns.

However, this shift to microSD Express cards comes with a notable downside: they are more expensive. A 128GB microSD Express card costs around $45, while a similar capacity standard microSD card is significantly cheaper at $10-15. Additionally, microSD Express cards are less widely available, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them. This means that while Nintendo's move aims to enhance performance and future-proof the console, it also increases 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. For a deeper dive into everything Nintendo revealed during the recent Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.