Nintendo Switch 2: XXL games and paid upgrades, the bill could sting

The Switch 2 arrives with games so big they could fill your console in the snap of a finger... and your wallet in no time. Get ready for the bill.

Nintendo has made the specs of its Switch 2 official, and the least we can say is that the Japanese giant isn't going for lightness. Between third-party games approaching 70 GB and sometimes hefty upgrades, players will have to deal with their storage... and their budget.

With 256 GB of internal storage, the console aims to be modern. This is better than the iPhone 16 and its 128 GB of storage on the base version, and a far cry from the Switch OLED and its 64 GB. Problem: titles like Split Fiction (71 GB) or GTA V (62.5 GB) would fill the space in just four installations. Even "lighter" games (Street Fighter 6 at 48.8 GB) quickly eat into the memory. The only viable solution: invest in a microSD Express card, capable of supporting 4K textures and the latest generation of graphics engines. The cheapest versions, like the previous generation's SD cards, are too slow and should be avoided.

Upgrades on the eShop: Between good deals and scams

On the price side, Nintendo is mixing pleasant surprises and slaps. Upgrades for Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom are priced at €9.99 each, a welcome gesture for fans. But other titles, like Kirby and the Forgotten World or Mario Party Jamboree, cost €19.99 for their Switch 2 version. This is a raise that raises eyebrows, especially for existing games. It seems that Nintendo is charging a little more for upgrades that also bring new content, and not just a visual update.

The new releases, however, remain in line with market standards: between 39.99 euros (Street Fighter 6) and 49.99 euros (Sonic X Shadow Generations). Only RAIDOU Remastered dares to approach 50 euros without any qualms.

It remains to be seen whether players will agree to pay twice for upgrades on Switch 2… while buying rather expensive microSD cards. The Switch 2 promises a leap forward in performance, but its hidden costs could give the most modest gamers cold sweats.