Nintendo Switch: no 64GB game cards before 2019?

On modern consoles, game size can be a thorny issue: required storage space, download speeds, mandatory installs, etc.. Naturally, the Nintendo Switch is no exception, and the problem is even exacerbated by the use of cartridges: a much more expensive format than discs, resulting in more expensive third-party games and mandatory installs even when the game is bought at retail.

Today, the Wall Street Journal reports that third-party developers/publishers have been informed by Nintendo that 64GB game cards would not be available until 2019. In other words, the biggest capacity remains 32GB, a type of card only used by one game: Dragon Quest Heroes I and II for Nintendo Switch (which is pretty expensive: over 9 000 Yen).

It’s not quite clear what this means for third-party games on Nintendo Switch: possible delays, and/or more mandatory installs? According to Takashi Mochizuki, some publishers/developers have expressed disappointment at this bit of news, as they were seemingly planning to release 32GB+ games in 2018.

However, this comes as a bit of a surprise, given most publishers are extremely reluctant to pay for 16GB cards. Considering 64GB cards are poised to be much more expensive than 32GB cards (that are only used by one game so far), it’s highly unlikely there are many of them considering their use.

It’s quite likely Nintendo chose to delay 64GB cards because they would otherwise be too expensive if launched in 2018, and the extra time would be used to bring costs down.

It’s certainly going to be interesting how the storage issue evolves moving forward. Right now, Nintendo’s focus is clearly on bringing down the cost of 16GB and 32GB cards, to avoid publishers having players take on the extra costs of those (by upping the price of Nintendo Switch versions of games, and having mandatory installs… if not both).

Source: Wall Street Journal