The official Nintendo Switch MicroSD card is pricey and unnecessary

By Steven Petite Published January 30, 2017

Nintendo Switch: Hands On — Jeffrey Van Camp/Digital Trends

Official Nintendo Switch memory cards will be released in Japan. Nintendo partnered with video game accessory manufacturer Hori to make it happen. There will be both 16GB and 32GB MicroSDHC cards to choose from.

The only difference between these cards and standard MicroSDHC cards is that they have the Nintendo Switch logo on top of a red background along the upper portion of the cards. Yet, as is true for many “official” accessories, the brand name alone is apparently enough to bump the price.

First pointed out by Forbes, the initial listings for the cards were approximately three times as much as the average going rate for similar cards of identical capacity. Since then, the prices have dropped on Hori’s storefront, with the 16GB model listed at 1,900 yen (around $16) and the 32GB model at 3,400 yen (around $30). Amazon Japan has both listed at much higher prices, though: 4,480 yen (around $39) for 16GB and 6,250 yen (around $54) for 32GB. Either way, to own an official Switch memory card you will have to pay a premium price.

Currently, the cards are only scheduled for release in Japan, but it seems likely that Nintendo and Hori could bring them to the states. The cards would be a perfect add-on at the register for unsuspecting customers. But there are much cheaper options.

As a comparison to the capacities of the official cards, you can routinely purchase a quality 16 GB MicroSDHC card for roughly $10, and a 32GB one for $15. Considering that the Switch’s 32GB internal hard drive is certainly underwhelming, you may want to opt for something a bit bigger, though. A solid 128 GB MicroSDHC card can be found for $40, and there will be plenty more options to choose from.

Nintendo recently unveiled the Switch’s official specifications. We learned that the console will support MicroSD and MicroSDHC formats at launch, and MicroSDXC compatibility will come with a future update. Since SDHC and SDXC are the two most common MicroSD formats, Switch users will have a wide variety of brands and capacities to choose from.

If you have a MicroSD card tucked away in a drawer, chances are it will work just fine in the Switch. If you’re in the market for one, you should stay away from the official Switch memory cards.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…

Gaming

Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works

Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."

Gaming

Surfaced patent shows what an Xbox streaming console would’ve looked like

An Xbox Series X sits next to both Series S models.

There have been a few Xbox devices that have never come to fruition, one of which was Keystone, a prototype for an affordable game streaming device you could hook up to your TV or monitor. Thanks to a surfaced patent, we've gotten an even closer look at what it would've potentially looked like.

The patent, first spotted by Windows Central, gives us a more complete view of the device. We've previously seen the Keystone in the flesh. Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer is known for hiding teases and interesting collectibles on the shelf in his office. In a 2022 X (formerly Twitter) post congratulating Bethesda on Fallout's 25th anniversary, you can see a small white device on the top shelf that's actually a Keystone prototype. Xbox told Digital Trends that it was a version of the device made before it decided to "refocus our efforts on a new approach.”

Gaming

Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for June 28

Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on June 28, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "ORDER." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Today’s Wordle includes the letter D.
Today’s Wordle uses two vowels.
Today's Wordle can refer to a large number of animals, particularly livestock like cattle or sheep, that are moving together in a group.