Switch 2 game sales fall during memory shortage, as storage prices limit console's appeal

The memory shortage hasn’t yet led to a Switch 2 price increase. Even so, it’s forcing some gamers with large libraries to make sacrifices. A Bloomberg article explains how rising NAND flash prices are driving up the cost of MicroSD Express cards. As Nintendo fans scramble to free up storage space, they are purchasing fewer new Switch 2 games.

The Switch 2 storage conundrum

AI data centers are monopolizing DRAM supplies, but are also desperate for multiple forms of storage. Takashi Mochizuki cites a Trendforce report predicting as much as a 90% increase in NAND contract prices this quarter. In Japan, gamers have already seen MicroSD Express card prices rise significantly since the console launched.

Although expensive to begin with, the price of expandable Switch 2 storage in other regions remains flat. Still, Mochizuki reveals how Nintendo has taken measures to avoid increases. With its first-party accessories, it convinced some retailers to accept a lower profit share. Nevertheless, the company may eventually raise the MSRP of the cards or the handheld itself.

The Bloomberg article connects the memory crisis to slowing Switch 2 game sales. A Nintendo financial statement showed that at the end of 2025, 2.18 games had sold for every console purchased. At roughly the same point in their lifespans, the original Switch registered a mark of 3.88.

A mixed bag for Switch 2 retail performance

Overall sales for the newer handheld are impressive, but owners are collecting fewer titles. Supporters are finding the system’s 256GB capacity limiting. In particular, third-party projects like the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade require more than 90GB installs. As the months pass, gamers must purchase additional MicroSD Express cards or delete files.

Because the 64GB cartridges may also throttle read speeds, publishers like Square Enix have resorted to Game-Key Cards. These releases only ship with minimal data on the physical media, necessitating large downloads. That burdens players with clearing up Switch 2 storage space.

Mochizuki expects that the problem could result in declining third-party support. Higher-capacity game cards may be adequate for some titles, but Nintendo will struggle to find an affordable solution. Some analysts predict that memory and storage prices won’t settle until 2028.