If I had to guess there probably is no material difference in cost between 64GB, 32GB, 16GB, etc. It's about the same and having just one size (64GB) likely is actually better for the manufacturer as it streamlines production, so Nintendo and the cart manufacturer just cut a deal for 64GB carts only. The speed of the carts is what is likely making them a little more expensive, not the storage size itself as 64GB isn't exactly a ton today. Switch 2 requires faster loading speeds than the Switch 1 carts did, you can't have the cartridge version load at like 1/4 the speed, that won't fly.
Larger sizes, I wouldn't be surprised if it never happens. 64GB is enough for Nintendo's own games, 3rd parties will have Game Key cards. If it's a situation where like Nintendo has a game above 64GB or a third party that really wants a physical cart for their game but 64GB isn't enough, you'll just be downloading that extra data onto your internal storage. Simple as that.
That's why I wouldn't be holding my breath for 128GB carts. If it ever happens it's probably a ways off and will be one of those things that's used for like a tiny handful of games.
64GB is still larger than a dual layer Blu-Ray disc (50GB), people saying "N64" like c'mon dude, if the N64 had 900MB cartridges (bigger than a CD-ROM) back in 1998 for only $8-$9 a pop, I'd be tap dancing down the street on the way to Blockbuster Video to go pick up Resident Evil 3 and Metal Gear Solid and Castlevania: SOTN for the N64. This is miles different from the N64 (never mind the industry standard is digital download). N64 carts could hold 1/20th of a CD really (as almost all N64 games were 32MB max, like 4 games being 64MB late in the N64's life cycle doesn't cut it) while being 100x plus the cost of a CD.
Last edited by Soundwave - on 11 May 2025
