Nintendo Switch 2 Game Sizes Unveiled: 256 GB Storage May Be Enough for Most Players!

Nintendo has officially revealed the file sizes for several upcoming Switch 2 games, which are notably compact.

On the Japanese My Nintendo Store, various Switch 2 titles are displayed along with their respective file sizes.

The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256 GB of built-in storage, a substantial increase from the 32 GB on the original Switch and Switch Lite, and 64 GB on the Switch OLED Model.

A significant update with the Switch 2 is its requirement for microSD Express cards to expand storage up to 2 TB, unlike the microSDXC cards used in current Switch models, which are incompatible with the new system.

However, the file sizes listed on the Japanese store suggest that the 256 GB internal storage will suffice for many users for quite some time.

File Sizes for Nintendo Switch 2 Games:

• Mario Kart World: 23.4 GB
• Donkey Kong Bananza: 10 GB
• Nintendo Classics: GameCube app: 3.5 GB
• Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ＋ Jamboree TV: 7.7 GB
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ＋ Star Crossed World: 5.7 GB

The largest of these, Mario Kart World, occupies about 10% of the total internal storage at 23.4 GB.

In comparison, Cyberpunk 2077, a much larger game, takes up 64 GB, which is approximately 25% of the Switch 2’s internal storage.

Nintendo also recently announced that some new Switch 2 game cards will not contain the game itself but a download key. This does not apply to Cyberpunk 2077.

For perspective, one of the largest games on the original Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, was only 16 GB.

The GameCube app, currently at 3.5 GB, is expected to increase in size as more titles are added, starting with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur 2.

The question arises: how can the Nintendo Switch 2 maintain relatively small game sizes while supporting resolutions up to 4K?

Earlier this year, a Nintendo patent was discovered that detailed AI image upscaling technology, which was filed in July 2023. This technology is believed to be related to Nvidia DLSS graphics technology, allowing for smaller game files with up to 4K textures.

Nvidia DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) uses AI to upscale lower-resolution images effectively, enhancing both game performance and visuals.

Following a recent Nintendo Direct, both Nintendo and Nvidia confirmed that the Switch 2’s custom GPU supports AI upscaling through DLSS and ray tracing capabilities.

Nvidia has described this processor as custom-built, featuring a GPU with dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores, which deliver stunning visuals and AI enhancements.

These improvements include 4K gaming on TV mode, and up to 120 FPS at 1080p in handheld mode, as well as HDR and AI upscaling for sharper, smoother visuals.

RT Cores introduce real-time ray tracing for more realistic lighting and shadows, enhancing the immersion of game worlds, while Tensor Cores are responsible for DLSS, which sharpens details without degrading quality.

Regarding the GPU specifics, Tetsuya Sasaki from Nintendo’s Technology Development Division commented that Nintendo tends to keep hardware details under wraps, focusing instead on consumer value, though he noted that Nvidia might share more information.

For additional details, you can check out the announcements from the recent Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and expert opinions on the pricing of Switch 2 and Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag.