Nintendo Switch 2 uses fancy new microSD Express cards, and storage is tight. The 1TB Lexar card is back in stock on Amazon, but it’s pricey.
Storage on Switch 2 Is Tight — And Old Cards Won’t Cut It
So here’s the situation: the Nintendo Switch 2 has landed, and just like every new console generation, storage is once again the bottleneck of dreams. The console ships with 256GB of internal storage, which is… fine if you’re only playing a couple of Mario games. But if you’re eyeing third-party bangers like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition (60GB) or Split Fiction (a chunky 69GB), that internal drive is gonna tap out fast.
And the kicker? Your old microSD cards from the OG Switch?
Totally useless. They straight-up don’t work.
Enter: microSD Express — Fancy, Fast, and Frustratingly Expensive
Nintendo went all-in on the new microSD Express format, which is essentially the NVMe SSD of tiny storage cards. Yes, it’s blazing fast. No, it’s not widely available. In fact, since launch, these things have been harder to find than an unopened Amiibo.
But good news: the 1TB Lexar microSD Express card — one of the few high-capacity cards that work with Switch 2 — is finally back in stock on Amazon. Bad news: it’ll cost you $219.99.
And while that’s the “going rate” for now, that price still hurts worse than Joy-Con drift.
Why This Card Matters (Even if You Go Physical)
You might be thinking, “Nah, I’m old school. I’ll just buy physical games and skip the storage drama.”
Plot twist: many physical Switch 2 games don’t even include the game anymore. Some are just “game-key cards” — cute little cartridges that only contain a download key. Others skip the cart altogether and just stick a download code in the box.
Nintendo does slap a big ol’ warning label on those boxes, but still — if you don’t have extra storage, you might be staring at a download screen instead of playing your new game.
Is Now the Time to Buy?
If you’re running out of space and want to future-proof your library, grabbing the 1TB Lexar now might be worth it — especially with supply being sketchy. Amazon’s shipping has already started to lag a bit, which means stock could dry up again.
But if you’re not in a rush and don’t mind juggling installed games, waiting for prices to drop (like they did with regular microSD cards during the original Switch era) is a solid move.
Storage Tax Hits Hard
Switch 2 is shaping up to be an awesome console — but Nintendo’s shift to microSD Express means early adopters are gonna pay a premium for storage. The tech is fast, the cards are rare, and unless you’ve got deep pockets, 1TB of breathing room comes at a high cost.
If you spot a deal, grab it. Otherwise, keep rotating those installs and praying your favorite game isn’t download-only in a plastic box.
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