Beyond original Switch games and upgrades using up valuable storage, the Switch 2 also introduces GameCube games to the retro collection available to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers. Like the classic titles for earlier consoles such as the NES, SNES, or Game Boy, these are offered within a single launcher, with every game in the collection installed simultaneously.
This setup works for the SNES collection—around 80 games fit into a small 267 MB package, so unused titles aren’t as noticeable. However, with only four GameCube titles currently available (F-Zero, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur II, and Super Mario Strikers), NSO GameCube already requires 6 GB. Original GameCube discs held nearly 1.5 GB, so each new title will increase the launcher’s space requirements, and unwanted games could prevent you from installing others you’d prefer to play. While this impacts NSO subscribers using the GameCube library, having the option to select which GameCube games to install would greatly help.
The Problem With the Solution
The good news is that Switch 2 still allows for storage expansion via microSD cards. Problem solved—just pop in a large capacity card, right? Not exactly. Switch 2 exclusively supports microSD Express format cards. The reason for this is valid—the standard offers much faster data transfer speeds, enabling quicker game loading—but this requirement introduces challenges.
One challenge is cost. MicroSD Express cards are more expensive per GB than older models. Currently, a SanDisk 128 GB card is $17, whereas the microSD Express card for Switch 2 is $54 for the same capacity—a threefold price increase. Another issue is card capacity. While there are a few 1-terabyte microSD Express cards available, supplies are scarce and prices are high. Although multiple microSD cards can technically be used with your console, Nintendo advises against it, making it impractical to swap several smaller cards.
To add to the confusion, the SD Express format refers only to speed, not capacity, which follows its own standards. Most microSD cards available for purchase, whether Express or not, adhere to the SD eXtended Capacity (SDXC) standard, supporting up to 2 TB, though the largest available card is 1.5 TB.
In 2018, the SD Association—responsible for SD card standards—introduced SD Ultra Capacity (SDUC), which supports up to 128 TB, “regardless of form factor, either micro or full size, or interface type including […] SD Express.” No SDUC cards are on the market yet, so we are far from adding an 8-TB card to your Switch 2 for unlimited installations. Eventually, though, this could become possible.