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During yesterday's hour-long Nintendo Direct, Nintendo revealed new information about the Switch 2, including its June 5 release date, $449.99 price tag and full specs. One of the important details mentioned was that the new console will be compatible with microSD Express cards for external storage. On the flip side, conventional microSD cards will not be supported (with the exception of loading screenshots and videos).

The good side of this change is that microSD Express cards have far greater read and write speeds than standard ones. The not-so-great news is that they are expensive and less widespread. As a result, it hasn't taken even a single day for scalpers to latch onto them.

Game*Spark reports that most online retailers in Japan have already sold out of microSD Express cards. Instead, the Switch 2-compatible memory cards are appearing in large numbers on Amazon and local e-commerce platforms. It goes without saying that listings can go to up to double the standard price.

While Nintendo has introduced an array of countermeasures against scalping of the console itself (including a region-locked Japanese version and strict pre-order conditions), it seems scalers have decided to prey on peripherals instead, as people who want extra storage will have no choice but to purchase microSD Express cards. Hopefully, the supply of memory cards will stabilize by the time the Nintendo Switch releases on June 5.

Nintendo Switch 2 compatible microSD cards already being scalped for double the price in Japan - AUTOMATON WEST

Online retailers in Japan are out of microSD Express cards and it hasn't even been a day since their compatibility with the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced.

automaton-media.com

 

[Baemono]

Damn Japanese scalpers, they ruined Japan

 

[FingerBang]

Damn Japanese scalpers, they ruined Japan

It's really bad over there. Being a scalper was already a job way before the pandemic, shit is impossible to buy for years sometimes, to the point sometimes it was cheaper to get stuff shipped from the EU/US (before the yen became stupidly weak). Insane.

 

[CobraAB]

Well, this is where we are at nowadays....

 

[Lokaum D+]

man, its just bad PR since the official announcement, this is looking lot like 3DS and WiiU launches.

 

[SimTourist]

 

[LordCBH]

Scalpers deserve to be drowned in the nearest body of water.

 

[nbkicker]

I think I'm more bother about the fact biggest one I seem to find is 256gb there needs to be 512gb or 1tb out there especially when some games gonna be 50-60 gb for 3rd party like street fighter 6 and cyberpunk never mind what cod will be

 

[Horseganador]

Only 256GB of internal memory and many empty third-party physical games... they're going to do good business selling these cards.

 

[nkill20]

expensive memory cards, where have I heard this before...

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Scalpers deserve to be drowned in the nearest body of water.

Someone doesn't understand import export.

 

[Xyphie]

expensive memory cards, where have I heard this before...

As opposed to PSP/Vita this is an open spec, so any NAND company can make them. They are expensive only because nothing currently use them more or less. When Switch 2 launches there will actually be a demand for them.

 

[Lethal01]

Weird choice of Gif
this sucks

 

[Randall365]

I think I'm more bother about the fact biggest one I seem to find is 256gb there needs to be 512gb or 1tb out there especially when some games gonna be 50-60 gb for 3rd party like street fighter 6 and cyberpunk never mind what cod will be

You are right, but the Switch 2 has 256gb internally, so you get 512gb with a £50 card - not that bad, as I never went past about 300gb on the OG switch. Plus there will be no need for high res textures.

 

[64gigabyteram]

evilore is jewish so can you not

 

[LordOcidax]

man, its just bad PR since the official announcement, this is looking lot like 3DS and WiiU launches.

 

[Impotaku]

Normal for japan they are just as bad as the yanks for price gouging. You have to be fast with stuff in japan as once Amazon's preorders vanish the Japanese marketplace sellers will appear with extra zeros added to the retail price.

 

[Tams]

expensive memory cards, where have I heard this before...

Mate, they are a standard unlike what you are thinking about.