Nintendo's recent 60-minute Nintendo Direct provided an extensive overview of the much-anticipated Switch 2, unveiling crucial details such as its price ($449.99), release date (June 5, 2025), and an array of new games. A significant revelation was the console's exclusive compatibility with microSD Express Cards, meaning you won't be able to use your old storage cards when you upgrade to the Switch 2 this summer. To expand your storage, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards, such as those offered by SanDisk on Amazon, including a 128GB version for $44.99 and a 256GB version for $59.99.

The Switch 2 comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, a substantial increase from the original Switch's 32GB. While this might initially seem sufficient, the larger file sizes expected for Switch 2 games could quickly consume that space. For instance, "Tears of the Kingdom" on the original Switch was 16GB, but its Switch 2 counterpart, along with titles like "Mario Kart World," could demand significantly more storage.

Unlike its predecessor, which supported standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards, the Switch 2 will only support microSD Express cards. This shift is driven by the advanced technology of microSD Express cards, which utilize PCIe and NVMe technology to achieve transfer speeds of up to 985 MB/s—nearly ten times faster than the UHS-I interface of traditional microSD cards. This upgrade ensures that the Switch 2 can handle larger, more demanding games without performance issues.

However, this comes with a notable downside: microSD Express cards are more expensive. For example, a 128GB microSD card for the original Switch would cost around $10-15, whereas the same storage capacity in an Express card is approximately $45. Additionally, microSD Express cards are less common, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung currently producing them. While Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express is aimed at enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, it does mean higher costs for expandable storage for users.

If you're planning to purchase a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, yet pricier, memory cards. For a comprehensive look at everything else revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.