Nintendo Switch 2’s Storage Woes: Can AAA Games Fit on Cartridges?

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The rumored upcoming console from Nintendo, referred to as the Nintendo Switch 2, is expected to be significantly more potent than its predecessor. However, Nintendo has neither confirmed nor denied any details regarding the Switch 2’s technical specifications. Leaks hint that the console might boast impressive capabilities for a device of its size, potentially including an eight-core CPU, an Nvidia T239 Ampere graphics chip, 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and around 256 GB of internal storage. This stands in stark contrast to the original Switch, which only has 4 GB of RAM and a four-core ARM CPU, suggesting a substantial upgrade.

Despite the fact that the Nintendo Switch has garnered significant popularity, there have been challenges for developers in adapting their games to this platform. Major third-party publishers like EA, Activision, and Ubisoft have often bypassed the console due to its lack of power. However, with the Switch 2 addressing the main weakness of the original Switch, many experts predict improved support from external developers, even those that struggled to create games for Nintendo consoles in the past. If the Switch 2 indeed boasts enough power to run graphics-heavy games, it raises questions about how physical media will be managed on the platform.

Switch 2 Cartridges May Not Be Large Enough to Store Demanding AAA Games

Switch Cartridges Have Some Major Downsides Compared to Blu-ray Discs

Unlike the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which use Blu-ray discs for games, the Nintendo Switch and its upcoming version opt for game cartridges instead. Given their handheld design, it’s understandable that these devices don’t have built-in DVD players. The cartridge format has some benefits due to its compact size, but it also presents certain challenges. For instance, because they are proprietary, Nintendo Switch game cartridges cost more to manufacture than Blu-ray discs and offer less storage capacity.

On Nintendo Switch game cards, the maximum storage capacity can differ between cards, and no single card exceeds 32 GB. In contrast, discs for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X can store up to 50-100 GB. Due to the restricted storage space on Switch cartridges, it may be challenging for large-sized games to appear on this platform. Since the Switch’s internal memory is quite limited, it’s almost essential that game data gets stored on external devices instead.

The Rumored AAA Games That Are Coming to the Switch 2 May Not Be Complete On Cartridge

There’s a buzz that popular third-party games like Tekken 8, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows might arrive on the Switch 2 this year. The idea of playing these big games on the move with a Nintendo console is exciting, but it leaves one questioning how they can possibly fit onto such a small cartridge. Titles like Tekken 8 and Red Dead Redemption 2 are over 80-100 GB each, making it difficult to believe they’d work on such a limited format. As the Switch 2 versions of these games will likely have smaller file sizes than their PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S counterparts (due to lower resolution textures), Nintendo may need to produce larger storage capacity cartridges.

Initially, producing 100 GB Switch cartridges might seem straightforward, but given that it would significantly increase production costs for publishers and developers, it’s unlikely that Nintendo will adopt this approach. Instead, we may find that upcoming AAA Switch 2 games, particularly those from third-party developers, won’t come with the full game on the cartridge. Instead, players might need to download additional parts of the game to play it on their consoles. This could potentially transform the Nintendo Switch 2 into a platform that predominantly relies on digital content in the future, though it’s still premature to make definitive predictions about this.

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2025-01-22 22:54