If you’ve ever stared at your gaming console’s storage bar, agonizing over which game to delete to make room for the new hot release, you know the struggle is real. Storage anxiety is a silent tax on modern gaming. But a new, affordable solution might be on the horizon for the next big Nintendo console. On June 5, 2025, Samsung took the wraps off a product that could fundamentally shift how we think about expanding our consoles: a microSD Express card priced at just $39.99.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The Product: A Samsung 256GB microSD Express card, explicitly listed for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
- The Price Point: At $39.99, it’s positioned as a remarkably affordable storage upgrade.
- The Promise: Effectively doubling the base storage of the rumored console for less than the cost of a full-price game.
- The Reach: This isn’t a niche release; it’s targeting major markets including the United States, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia.
This Isn’t Your Old SD Card: A Speed and Value Leap
First, let’s clear up the tech. microSD Express is a newer standard that’s significantly faster than the microSD UHS-I cards used in the original Switch. While full speed specs for the Switch 2 aren’t confirmed, this move signals Nintendo is ready to leverage that faster pipeline. This means potentially quicker load times and smoother performance for games running from the expanded storage.
But the real headline here is the cost. Historically, buying official or recommended storage for a console carries a “console tax”—a premium over comparable PC components. Samsung’s $39.99 tag for 256GB shatters that expectation. For context, high-speed storage has traditionally been a major post-purchase expense. This price, confirmed on retailer listings noted by Tom’s Hardware, changes the entire calculus of owning a next-gen handheld.
For the Budget-Conscious Gamer: A New Value Proposition
Let’s talk directly about value. If the rumored Nintendo Switch 2 launches with a 256GB base model (a common speculation), this card literally doubles your space for under forty bucks. This is a game-changer for players who wait for sales, love digital indie titles, or can’t afford the top-tier SKU.
Think about it. Instead of spending an extra $150 or more for a console with double the internal storage, you could invest that money into, well, games. It empowers a “buy the base model, upgrade storage later” strategy that has been successful in the PC space for years. This affordability could directly influence which Switch 2 model sees the highest sales, pushing gamers toward the entry-level option with confidence.
The Caveats and Considerations
However, it’s not all simple math. We need to apply some critical thinking. First, compatibility is key. While the card is listed on an official Nintendo page, we’re operating on the assumption that the Switch 2 will fully support the microSD Express standard and that its internal storage will indeed be 256GB. The console’s final specs are still under wraps.
Second, there’s a potential performance difference. Games might still load fastest from the console’s internal NVMe storage. While microSD Express is fast, it may not match the internal drive’s peak speed. For most gamers, this won’t be noticeable, but hardcore players might still prefer installing their most-played titles internally.
Finally, the longevity of this price is a question. Is $39.99 a permanent price or a promotional launch offer? Storage prices fluctuate, but setting this benchmark early creates powerful consumer expectation.
The Bottom Line for Your Wallet
Samsung’s move is a preemptive strike against one of the most common complaints in modern gaming: expensive storage. By offering a high-speed, high-capacity card at a mass-market price before the Switch 2 even hits shelves, they’ve fundamentally altered its value proposition.
For you, the budget-conscious gamer, this means more freedom. It means the potential to buy the standard console and still have ample room for a robust library without breaking the bank. It turns storage from a luxury upgrade into an accessible essential. While we await official confirmation on the console’s details, one thing is clear: the cost of playing more just got a lot cheaper.
If you’re interested in related developments, explore our articles on Why Red Dead Redemption 2 Needs a Nintendo Switch 2 Port and Why Pebblebee’s New Android Trackers Just Changed the Find My Game.
