Nintendo Switch 2 Expand Storage: Is Buying a Memory Card Worth It?

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a large internal memory. But is it worth buying a memory card for the Switch 2? MeinMMO explains for whom the purchase is worthwhile and for whom it is not.

How much storage does the Switch 2 have? The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256 GB of internal storage, part of which is occupied by the operating system of the Switch 2. Nevertheless, the Switch 2 has significantly more storage than its predecessors: The Switch offered only 32 GB, the OLED variant at least 64 GB.

But is 256 GB of storage enough at launch, or should one consider buying a memory card? MeinMMO explains whether the upgrade is worth it.

New games require a lot of space on the Switch 2, while indie games do not

How large are games on the Switch 2? In particular, well-known AAA titles have very high storage requirements: Games with very high storage needs on the Switch 2 include Split Fiction, Cyberpunk 2077, or No Man’s Sky. If you want to install many such games, you will quickly reach your storage limit and need an additional memory card.

Many indie titles, on the other hand, are significantly smaller and require little storage space. Physical games also require little storage space, as only the updates are stored in the system memory.

Current game sizes on the Switch 2:

• Split Fiction: 69.2 GB
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition: 59 GB
• Mario Kart World: 21.9
• No Man’s Sky 24.9 GB
• Witcher 3 26.6 GB
• Pokémon Shield: 12.4 GB
• Animal Crossing New Horizons: 10.7 GB

Furthermore, you should keep in mind: Even unreleased titles such as Madden NFL 26 (Release: August 2025) are estimated to require 30 to 50 GB of storage space.

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Switch 2: Should you buy a memory card?

For whom is the purchase of a memory card for the Switch 2 worthwhile?

• If you want to play many AAA titles that require a lot of space right at release, we would advise you to buy a memory card.
• If you mostly have your games digitally and rely on the internal storage. Here, a memory card is also recommended.
• With an additional memory card, you are future-proof, as new Switch 2 titles are expected to require a lot of space.

For whom is the purchase of a memory card not worthwhile?

• If you play Mario Kart World, the Zelda games, and at most one Pokémon game, the internal storage of your Switch 2 should be sufficient.
• For casual gamers or users who primarily buy physical games, the internal storage is usually sufficient as only updates and save data are stored in the system memory.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch worldwide on June 5, 2025. To ensure a smooth start with the console, you can find here a collection of all important guides for the Nintendo Switch 2 at MeinMMO: Nintendo Switch 2 Guides: All tips and tricks at a glance