Why Did Nintendo Only Include 32GB of Storage in the Switch?

As an avid Nintendo fan and game devotee, storage capacity is always top of mind for me. So when the Nintendo Switch launched back in 2017 with just 32GB of usable storage, I’ll admit I was a bit puzzled.

Sure, it allowed Nintendo to launch at that tempting $299 price point. But even in 2017, 32 gigs seemed skimpy to hold a robust digital game collection and save data. Flash forward to 2023, and it really doesn’t cut it anymore.

Let‘s take an in-depth look at why Nintendo opted for 32GB, what gamers can actually expect to store with it, and tips to maximize the Switch‘s limited storage even today.

Hitting the Magic $299 Price Point Drove Nintendo‘s Storage Decision

When planning a new console, deciding on internal storage has huge implications – both for manufacturing costs and the user experience. Nintendo clearly optimized for a $299 sticker price.

Teardowns revealed the Switch‘s Bill of Materials (BOM) cost was around $257 at launch. With 32GB, Nintendo could hit their magic price point and still build in a profit margin.

Estimated Switch BOM at Launch

Had Nintendo doubled the storage to 64GB, it likely would have added another $10-15 to the BOM per unit. And at scale, that starts to hit profits hard.

Clearly Nintendo determined the benefits of hitting $299 outweighed pushing in more storage. Especially since storage is something gamers can expand on their own later…for a premium, of course.

Breaking Down Exactly How Many Games 32GB Gets You

So what can you actually expect to squeeze onto those 32 gigs before picking up an external microSD card? As both a gamer and dev myself, I ran the numbers on realistic capacity.

The first pain point is that only 25.9GB on the Switch is actually usable for games and data. A chunk is reserved for the system firmware and save game data.

Now let‘s talk actual games. Switch game download sizes currently average around 9GB, but vary wildly. Some hit over 29GB, while acclaimed indies can clock in under 1GB.

So accounting for a mix of triple-A and indie games, 32GB gives you space for around 5-10 average titles. Though you may squeeze in 15+ if exclusively playing retro or indie games under 1GB.

Projected Nintendo Switch Game Capacity for 32GB Storage

Now this estimate is based on dedicated game storage only. You‘ll eat away gigs fast by capturing video clips and screenshots to internal storage too.

So while it was nice not needing expanded storage immediately out of the box, 32GB definitely doesn‘t set Switch owners up for an all-digital library once they build a backlog.

Average Game Sizes Have Ballooned Since 2017

You might argue that 32GB seemed more reasonable back in 2017. And that‘s fair – average download sizes were smaller last generation across the board.

But game installs sizes have grown enormously over the past 5 years. Just look at these stats:

Average PS4/Xbox One Game Sizes

First-party Nintendo games do tend to skew on the smaller side even today. But with third-parties and indie devs targeting better graphics and assets for the Switch, 32GB gets gobbled up faster than ever in 2024.

How Switch Storage Compares to Other Consoles

I think the 32GB capacity also left a bad taste because both Sony and Microsoft consoles packed way more storage even back in 2017. The PS4 and Xbox One launched with sizable 500GB drives.

And now with the PS5 and Series X consoles, having less usable space than a launch PS4 just makes the Switch seem that much more dated.

Built-In Storage Comparison by Console Generation

To Nintendo‘s credit, they realized the limitation as well. The OLED model bumped internal storage to a still-paltry 64GB.

And given how large game installations ballooned to in 2022, I’m hoping whatever the “Switch 2” packs will start at minimum 128GB when it eventually releases.

microSD Cards Feel Essential for Dedicated Digital Gamers

Since built-in storage is so limited from the get-go, most core gamers end up buying microSD cards to expand their space.

Portion of Switch Owners Who Use microSD Storage

Nintendo made storage expansion easy by supporting gigantic 2TB microSD cards. But dropping another $200+ just for storage leaves a bad taste after a $299 console purchase.

My recommendation based on avg game sizes is 128GB for casual gamers. That provides space for 10-15 games as a baseline.

Hardcore gamers should aim for 512GB+ though – you‘ll easily fill that eventually with Game Pass subscriptions and the eShop holiday sales!

And if going all-digital, 1TB seems to be the sweet spot to build a sizeable library. No worries about redownloading because you ran out of space.

Physical Game Cartridges Help Conserve Precious Storage

Digital downloads provide convenience by letting you access games without swapping cartridges. But physical Switch games have a nice side benefit – they don‘t consume your limited builtin storage!

Physical cartridges store game data separately rather than installing to internal storage or microSD card.

So by buying physical releases, 32GB owners gain a lot more mileage since their actual console storage remains free. Just insert the cart and no install required.

That‘s why despite the eShop‘s sales and mybias towards digital for convenience, I still lean physical for any major Switch releases I‘m grabbing. Especially with triple-A games easily consuming 10-15GB.

Optimized Game Storage May Improve on a Next-Gen Switch

While no official Switch successor has been unveiled yet, Nintendo is undoubtedly working on next-gen hardware behind the scenes. Codenamed the "Switch 2" among rumors.

With Xbox and PlayStation pushing file sizes to ridiculous levels exceeding 100GB in some cases, Nintendo simply can‘t get away with 32GB again if they expect parity with third party publishers.

Based on storage trends, I anticipate a baseline 128GB on any new Switch iteration. Possibly even 256GB or 512GB on premium models.

Nintendo also works closely with developers to optimize game file sizes for their hardware. So while they may not reach Xbox beastly proportions, 100GB+ isn‘t uncommon among PS5 titles either.

The Switch 2 will surely drive average game installs much larger – but I still expect Nintendo‘s partnerships to keep sizes modest compared to other consoles where possible.

After all, they know not everyone will be keen to drop big bucks on microSD cards! Conserving builtin storage remains important.

The Switch‘s 32GB Has Served Its Purpose – For Better or Worse

As both a passionate gamer and developer in the industry, I think Nintendo‘s decision to launch Switch with just 32GB of usable storage definitely raised some eyebrows.

And while they executed their goal of meeting that tempting $299 entry point, it soon had many users realizing just how quickly modern game installs can choke through limited space.

Physical cartridges and microSD cards certainly help alleviate storage headaches to an extent. But needing separate accessories for full functionality gives off a "separate but equal" vibe I‘d rather avoid.

My hope is that whatever the Switch 2 evolves into, Nintendo bakes in at least 128-256GB internal storage this go around. But only time will tell!

In the meantime, 32GB Switch owners still have plenty of options to build their libraries. Just make sure you grab one of those microSD cards deal I linked! Having 200+ gigs for just $20 makes ALL the difference.

Let me know what storage capacity you‘d hope for in a new Nintendo console down below! And for more Switch content like this, don‘t forget to join my gaming guild using the link in the video description. Let‘s squad up online soon!