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Just as I had feared, Switch 2 SD cards have not been spared from the current gaming storage pricing hellscape
GamesRadar+ reports that microSD Express cards for Nintendo’s Switch 2 are also being affected by high gaming-storage prices. This matters because the console requires the newer card standard for expandable storage, potentially adding a significant cost for players who need more space for digital games.
The article frames the price increases as part of a wider storage-market squeeze rather than an issue unique to Nintendo. It notes that buyers cannot rely on older, cheaper microSD cards for Switch 2 expansion, leaving them dependent on the relatively new and more expensive microSD Express format.
In short
- Switch 2 storage cards remain comparatively expensive.
- The console requires microSD Express cards for expansion.
- Rising storage prices increase the cost of digital gaming.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Switch 2's requirement for expensive microSD Express cards forces consumers into a premium cost burden with no cheaper alternative available. Players cannot fall back to older storage options, effectively locking them into elevated pricing and significantly raising the console's total cost of ownership. This represents an anti-consumer constraint that lacks adequate justification for its premium pricing structure.
The case against
microSD Express provides genuine performance improvements that justify its technical requirement in the Switch 2. Whilst storage prices are currently elevated, they will naturally decline as adoption broadens—a typical pattern for new technology. Additionally, consumers retain meaningful alternatives through physical games, game streaming, and selective digital library choices, making optional storage expansion less critical than the framing suggests.
Explained simply
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a games console that can store downloaded games and other data in its built-in memory. Players who run out of space can add a memory card, but the console uses microSD Express, a newer type of card.
Older microSD cards are cheaper and widely used in many devices, but they cannot be used to expand the Switch 2’s storage. MicroSD Express cards are less established and can cost more, so buying extra space may add to the cost of playing games digitally.
The price pressure is part of a wider squeeze in the market for gaming storage, rather than a problem limited to Nintendo. It matters most to players who plan to keep many games installed or who rely on digital downloads.