If you're gearing up for the Nintendo Switch 2 or simply seeking a fast, future-proof memory card, you'll want to take note of this deal. The Lexar 512GB Play PRO MicroSD Express Card is back in stock and now available for $89.92 on Amazon, down from its regular price of $99.99.
This card is one of the few MicroSD Express options available in larger capacities, and it's officially compatible with the upcoming Switch 2. This compatibility is crucial as Nintendo has confirmed that their next-generation console will only support MicroSD Express for expandable storage, rendering all older cards from the original Switch unusable, regardless of their remaining capacity.
Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSDXC Express Card
$99.99 save 10%
$89.92 at Amazon
Why the shift to MicroSD Express? It's all about speed. These cards utilize the same PCIe interface as the high-speed NVMe SSDs found in modern gaming PCs, allowing the Lexar Play PRO to reach read speeds of up to 985MB/s—nearly ten times faster than the UHS-I cards used in the current Switch. This increased speed leads to faster load times and ensures that you won't experience performance bottlenecks when loading larger, more demanding games from your expansion card.
With a capacity of 512GB, this Lexar card offers an excellent balance between storage and price. Given that some confirmed Switch 2 games are over 20GB in size, the internal 256GB won't last long. While a 1TB Express card would cost nearly $200, this 512GB option is currently the most cost-effective choice—if you can find it in stock. There's also a 256GB version available for $47.67 at Amazon.
Availability has been inconsistent, with many MicroSD Express cards selling out quickly after the Switch 2 announcement. If you're planning to purchase the new console at launch, now is the time to secure one of these cards before they're gone again. Speed is non-negotiable for the next generation of portable consoles, and currently, this Lexar deal offers the fastest and most affordable way to prepare.
Switch 2 Game Storage Sizes:
Nintendo has disclosed some file sizes for Switch 2 games, and some are surprisingly compact. The Japanese My Nintendo Store lists several Switch 2 games along with their file sizes, indicating that the 256GB of internal storage may be more substantial than initially thought.
The largest file size listed is for Mario Kart World at 23.4GB, which occupies about 10% of the Switch 2's total internal storage. In comparison, Mario Kart World is relatively small compared to the hefty Cyberpunk 2077, which requires 64GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, accounting for 25% of the internal storage.
- 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
Bookmark IGN's Switch 2 preorder guide today, and when anything goes live, we'll post links the moment they become available. Get notified when a Nintendo Switch 2 console, game, or accessory preorder listing goes live by following IGN Deals on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
