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Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards Rise 2,000 Yen at Nintendo Store

The quiet price hike, without any official announcement, marks the second Nintendo hardware or accessory price increase this year, and it hits a product that is the only storage expansion option for Switch 2 owners, making it a forced cost for users.

Key Facts

  • The SanDisk and Samsung microSD Express Card 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2 now sell for 8,980 yen including tax, up from 6,980 yen.
  • The price increase was applied at the Nintendo Store on August 17 or 18, 2026, with no official announcement from Nintendo or the manufacturers.
  • The Nintendo Switch 2 only supports microSD Express cards, not standard microSD cards from the original Switch.
  • The SanDisk version is out of stock at the Nintendo Store as of August 17 or 18, while the Samsung version remains available.
  • The Nintendo Switch 2 console itself was raised from 49,980 yen to 59,980 yen in May 2026.

Reporting from 4 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), ASCII.jp, Denfaminicogamer, Automaton.

Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards Rise 2,000 Yen at Nintendo Store

The Nintendo-licensed microSD Express Card 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2, sold by SanDisk and Samsung, has been quietly raised in price at the Nintendo Store and other retailers. The cards, previously priced at 6,980 yen including tax, now sell for 8,980 yen, a 2,000 yen increase. The price revision was applied on August 17 or 18, depending on the source, and no official announcement from Nintendo or the manufacturers has been confirmed. The Nintendo Switch 2 only supports microSD Express cards, a new standard with faster read and write speeds, and standard microSD cards from the original Switch are not compatible. As of the time of writing, the SanDisk version is out of stock at the Nintendo Store, while the Samsung version remains available. This follows a May price increase for the Nintendo Switch 2 console itself, which rose from 49,980 yen to 59,980 yen. Sources attribute the rise to semiconductor and memory shortages, as well as global inflation.

The price revision applies to the two officially licensed 256GB microSD Express cards for the Nintendo Switch 2, one from SanDisk and one from Samsung. Both were listed at 6,980 yen before the change and now carry an 8,980 yen price tag at the Nintendo Store. The same pricing has appeared at other online retailers, including Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping, according to GAME Watch.

No official statement from Nintendo or the card makers has been issued. The increase follows a May price hike for the Nintendo Switch 2 console in Japan, which went from 49,980 yen to 59,980 yen. Automaton reports that a surge in microSD Express card prices was also observed just before the console's release, and that the new standard is not backward compatible with standard microSD cards used on the original Switch.

User reactions collected by ASCII.jp include surprise and frustration, with comments such as "Finally...!" and "Suddenly a 2,000 yen increase?" The SanDisk card is currently sold out at the official store, while the Samsung card remains in stock. The Switch 2 supports microSD Express cards up to 2TB, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options available from third-party retailers.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Card 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2

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