Developer Reveals Shocking Truth About Switch 2 Game Cards

The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is facing unexpected hurdles, as developers are struggling with the performance of its new Game Cards. In a bold statement, Rob Bantin, Audio Architect for the highly publicized Star Wars Outlaws, has revealed that the device's physical game cards are too slow to support a fully immersive experience.

Bantin shared on Bluesky that the technical limitations of the Switch 2's Game Card interface might deter publishers from pursuing physical game releases. "Snowdrop relies heavily on disk streaming for its open world environments, and we found the Switch 2 cards simply didn’t give the performance we needed at the quality target we were aiming for," he explained.

A Dangerous Game of Loading Speed!

With physical cards maxing out at 400 MB/s, it’s clear why developers are concerned. This speed pales in comparison to the blistering rates of eMMC storage (2,100 MB/s) and MicroSD Express expansion cards (800 MB/s). Imagine waiting through agonizingly long loading screens when booting up your favorite game!

Star Wars Outlaws was designed with next-gen consoles in mind, utilizing ultra-fast SSDs that deliver data at speeds of 4.8–5.5 GB/s. Bantin’s insights suggest that developers aren’t willing to sacrifice quality just to cater to physical media.

Is Nintendo's Decision Flawed?

It raises eyebrows that Nintendo opted for a slower card interface for the Switch 2. While the original Switch delivered more balanced read speeds, the Game Cards of the new console seem to throttle potential performance, all while manufacturing costs for these cards reportedly remain high.

Although cost-cutting might have influenced this decision, manufacturers are wary, with many opting for cheaper Game Key Cards instead.

What’s Next for Switch 2 Owners?

Nintendo could remedy this situation by allowing users to pre-install games onto their internal or expansion storage, a practice that's standard for other major consoles. However, this could frustrate players wanting to avoid overloading the Switch 2’s limited 256GB capacity.

As the gaming landscape continues to evolve away from physical media, it will be fascinating to see how developers navigate the constraints imposed by Switch 2’s Game Cards. Will they find a way to adapt, or will this lead to a decline in physical titles? Only time will tell!