Summary
TheNintendo Switch 2will require a day-one update to use microSD Express cards, its retail packaging confirms. At least one otherSwitch 2feature will also require a post-launch update instead of working out of the box.
TheSwitch 2’s microSD Express card supportwas leaked even before the console itself was officially announced in mid-January 2025. Compared to the older UHS-I specification used by the original Switch, the microSD Express standard supports theoretical transfer speeds of up to approximately 985 MB/s—a tenfold improvement. It also offers a significantly higher theoretical storage capacity, supporting up to 128 terabytes compared to the 2 TB limit of UHS-I microSD cards. However, Nintendo’s support pages state the Switch 2 will only allow for up to 2 TB of expandable storage, at least at launch.
While the original Switch supported microSD cards out of the box, its successor will require a software update to enable expandable storage. Nintendo confirmed this in early April 2025 but did not provide further details at the time. More recently, Famiboards userpelusilla6shared a real-life photo of theSwitch 2Mario Kart Worldbundle, whose box confirms that the necessary update will be available at launch.
Switch 2’s Day-One Update May Include Multiple Features
Nintendo previously revealed thatfull 3D audio support on the Switch 2 will require a software updateas well. While the console will technically support the feature out of the box, this only applies to external output devices, such as headphones or a TV in docked mode. The post-launch update is intended to enable 3D audio through the console’s built-in speakers. The console’s official packaging does not indicate whether this patch will also be available at launch. However, Nintendo’s prior statements suggested that the 3D audio and microSD Express update are one and the same.
TheSwitch 2’s microSD Express support won’t be an optional upgrade; while the new cards share the same physical dimensions as their UHS-I predecessors, they will not function if inserted into the new console. The silver lining is that the Switch 2 will be less reliant on expandable storage than its predecessor. With 256 GB of flash memory, the device offers eight times the storage capacity of the original Switch. Although game install sizes tend to increase with each hardware generation, the console should still provide enough space to accommodate at least a handful of day-one titles without requiring a microSD Express card.
The Switch 2 is scheduled for release on June 5, with a retail price of $449.99. In the United States, theMario Kart Worldbundle is priced at $499.99 and offers the most cost-effective way to purchase the game, which will be sold separately for $79.99.
