Possible new Switch 2 cartridges
A technical analysis surfaced suggesting possible new cartridge sizes for Switch 2, which would indicate Nintendo is preparing for larger game footprints on the next console. (nintenderos.com) The rumored cartridge sizing is being read as a sign developers may target bigger, higher‑fidelity assets on the system. (nintenderos.com)
Nintendo has not announced new Switch 2 cartridge sizes, but a fresh round of technical analysis has revived the idea that larger-capacity cards could be on the way. (nintenderos.com) A game card is the storage chip inside a physical cartridge, like a tiny solid-state drive that holds the game data. Nintendo’s official Switch 2 specifications say the console accepts both Switch 2 and original Switch game cards, but they do not list any card capacities. (nintendo.com) Nintendo has confirmed a second format called a Game-Key Card, which looks like a physical release but does not carry the full game. Nintendo’s support page says the card acts as a key, requires an internet download, and needs enough free space on the system or a microSD Express card. (en-americas-support.nintendo.com) That distinction has pushed attention onto cartridge sizes because capacity affects manufacturing cost. Video Games Chronicle reported in December 2025 that most third-party publishers were believed to be choosing between a 64 gigabyte card and a cheaper Game-Key Card, though Nintendo had not officially confirmed those storage options. (videogameschronicle.com) The current rumor cycle traces back to memory supplier Macronix, which said in 2025 that it planned to use its own multi-level cell NAND and outsourced three-dimensional NAND for products with “varying capacities.” Multiple outlets connected that language to Nintendo game cards because Macronix is a longtime Nintendo memory partner, but the company did not publicly name specific Switch 2 cartridge sizes. (macronix.com, heyupnow.com) A separate flare-up came in December 2025, when publisher Inin Games said Nintendo had announced two smaller Switch 2 cartridge sizes and that R-Type Dimensions 3 would move from a Game-Key Card to a full cartridge. Inin later issued a correction saying Nintendo had made “no official announcement or confirmation” about cartridge storage capacities. (ign.com, videogameschronicle.com) The practical issue is simple: bigger games need more space, and bigger cards usually cost more to manufacture. If Nintendo adds more card sizes, publishers could stop overpaying for oversized media or falling back to Game-Key Cards for mid-sized releases. (ign.com, videogameschronicle.com) That has turned a supply-chain detail into a preservation debate. GamesIndustry.biz reported in April 2025 that Nightdive Studios chief executive Stephen Kick called Game-Key Cards “disheartening” because they move physical purchases closer to download-only access. (gamesindustry.biz) For now, the hard facts are narrower than the speculation: Nintendo officially supports regular game cards and Game-Key Cards, and unofficial reporting points to pressure for more storage options. Until Nintendo or a supplier publishes exact capacities, any list of “new Switch 2 cartridge sizes” remains unconfirmed. (nintendo.com, en-americas-support.nintendo.com, ign.com)
