Storage May Be Switch 2’s Biggest Problem
Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch is considered one of the biggest console launches of this year. Both its 4K support and the portable experience it offers with new games have been enough to attract gamers’ attention. However, amidst all these innovations, there’s a topic that’s caught the attention of many users and is increasingly being discussed: the Switch 2’s storage limitations.
Is the Switch 2 Storage Enough for Gamers?
The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal memory, which, on paper, represents a significant increase over previous models. However, today’s large games with 4K graphics quickly eat up this space. For example, games like Split Fiction alone take up 69GB of storage. Nintendo titles like Donkey Kong Bananza, while more modest in size, don’t allow the system much breathing room.
While physical games might seem like a savior in this situation, the Switch 2’s GameKey Card format pushes users back to digital downloads. It’s impossible to run a game without inserting a card, and the game data is downloaded to the console, not on the card. This negates the advantage of opting for a physical copy.
While manufacturers could switch to cards larger than 64GB due to their large file sizes, this is often hindered by cost. Even major studios are resorting to boxes containing codes instead of physical cards. As a result, players are forced to reconsider their storage space for each new game.
Backward compatibility also allows Switch 1 cards to work, but this isn’t always a solution. “Image upgrade packs” offered for some games can require an additional 10GB of storage in addition to the physical game. This means even older games continue to take up space on the new system.
With the addition of the GameCube library to the system, things become even more complicated for NSO+ members. Even a four-game pack takes up 6GB of storage, and that space requirement will grow exponentially as new games are added to the collection. It may not be long before players are forced to choose between their favorite games.
