Nintendo Switch 2: MicroSD Express Cards Sold Out in Japan After Nintendo Direct Announcement

The recent Nintendo Direct, held on April 2, 2025, brought exciting news for Nintendo fans. Among the announcements, the confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 will exclusively support MicroSD Express cards, offering significantly faster transfer speeds than traditional microSD cards, stood out. This news led to a rush to Japanese stores, resulting in a quick sell-out of these memory cards.

The Japanese e-commerce association, Asbic, reported that shortly after the announcement, sales of MicroSD Express cards reached an impressive 337 units per hour. Remarkably, over 80% of buyers purchased only one unit, indicating that most purchases were for personal use rather than resale.

However, this high demand led to opportunistic practices. Reports indicate that resellers began inflating the prices of MicroSD Express cards. For example, 256GB cards, previously sold for around 8,000 yen (approximately $400), were now being offered for over 18,000 yen (around $900) on online platforms. This situation sparked outrage among consumers, who expressed their frustrations on social media.

Nintendo's decision to adopt the MicroSD Express standard in the Switch 2 aligns with the pursuit of performance improvements for the console. Previous rumors had already suggested this possibility, especially after the discovery of a job vacancy at Nintendo that mentioned experience with SD Express. Furthermore, Samsung had announced in December 2024 the development of MicroSD Express cards with transfer speeds of up to 880MB/s, the result of a successful collaboration with an unidentified client, which many speculate to be Nintendo.

The adoption of MicroSD Express by the Switch 2 represents a significant advancement compared to the previous model, which supported microSD cards with much lower transfer speeds. This improvement promises to reduce loading times and provide a smoother gaming experience, especially for larger titles.

Faced with the scarcity of MicroSD Express cards in the Japanese market, experts advise consumers to wait for stock levels to normalize and avoid purchasing at inflated prices. Nintendo has already stated that it is taking measures to ensure the adequate availability of accessories and avoid stock issues, as experienced in previous releases.

In summary, the introduction of MicroSD Express support in the Nintendo Switch 2 is exciting news for gamers, promising to elevate the gaming experience to a new level. However, it is essential for consumers to be aware of market practices and wait for more favorable purchasing conditions.