They only gave a v1 cart example when they show the bigger Switch 2 so we have no idea what it will be aka 3DS notch. But the leaks of the hardware with a red cart in the slot and there seen to be space to one side of the cart itself. I wonder if that didn't mean a "Wider" Switch 2 cart? But I hope they use 3d Nand tech to hold more rather then force download content that should come already loaded.
@SwitchForce There probably won’t be any physical shape difference in cartridges this time around. We might just see them go the SD card route and reuse the Switch 1 cartridge shape with bigger storage, higher speeds and obviously a different color.
This is the part I am still trying to wrap my head around how does the slot look like and what does the Switch 2 carts look like? The trailer really didn't want to show us that and maybe it's April 2 we see it but I can't figure why it would be so hard to just show us this simple hardware? Just had a thought remember USB drives 2.0 and 3.0 drives. What if that is what happens to the Switch 2 carts has a design like USB 3.0-3.1 with more connectors. This would be the same slot but more connectors for Switch 2 carts to look the same but will clearly connect differently when inserted to the slot.
Just like USB 3.0 ports on computer you can still insert USB 2.0 drives but when you insert USB 3.0-3.1 drives you get more speed access and transfer. USB 3.0 ports will still read USB 2.0 drives it's to get the full speed one must use USB 3.0 drives to do so. And also remember Switch 2 has two USB ports so that would stand to reason they are going to make the Switch port aka USB drives where Switch 2 will perform more but if you try to insert that into Switch v1 nothing will happen cause PIN configuration is different and you need different ChipSet to read that Switch 2 carts. This will prevent anyone from trying to use Switch 2 games in Switch v1. And the port could look the same but maybe a design for wider Switch 2 carts will notch so it will only slide into slot but just looking at it - it looks like a regular Switch cart but if you look closer there is a design change so you could just insert it into Switch v1 slot. Aka New 3DS XL carts but not a notch but is the whole cart is a wider Switch 2 slot for v2 games but they will be to wide to fit v1 Switch. So that would mean if you want v2 games your going to have to go Switch 2 regardless it's built into the design to do just that.
That’s a really interesting point! The Switch 2 Game Cards are definitely a big mystery, and it’ll be fascinating to see how Nintendo handles compatibility.
Your two theories make a lot of sense—either a physical notch to differentiate them (like 3DS vs. DS cartridges) or a change in the pin layout to prevent them from working on the original Switch. The second option, where the system detects the cartridge and displays a message, seems like a very Nintendo-like approach.
It says -> "Game cartridges: The new cartridges are similar in size to those in the first Switch, but feature a “toothed” section to prevent them from being inserted into older models."
Storage is another key question. With modern games getting bigger, it would make sense for Switch 2 cartridges to go beyond the current 32 GB limit—64 GB seems reasonable, but maybe even higher for future-proofing. Hopefully, Nintendo opts for higher capacities to reduce reliance on large downloads.
Can’t wait to see how they implement this! What do you think would be the best approach?
That’s a really interesting point! The Switch 2 Game Cards are definitely a big mystery, and it’ll be fascinating to see how Nintendo handles compatibility.
Your two theories make a lot of sense—either a physical notch to differentiate them (like 3DS vs. DS cartridges) or a change in the pin layout to prevent them from working on the original Switch. The second option, where the system detects the cartridge and displays a message, seems like a very Nintendo-like approach.
It says -> "Game cartridges: The new cartridges are similar in size to those in the first Switch, but feature a “toothed” section to prevent them from being inserted into older models."
Storage is another key question. With modern games getting bigger, it would make sense for Switch 2 cartridges to go beyond the current 32 GB limit—64 GB seems reasonable, but maybe even higher for future-proofing. Hopefully, Nintendo opts for higher capacities to reduce reliance on large downloads.
Can’t wait to see how they implement this! What do you think would be the best approach?
Since there might be some cross-gen games, adding a toothed section may not be too viable. They might probably just do a separate pin layout for Switch 2-only games, but cross-gen games could contain both sets of pins.
Pretty obvious they should use different colors to differentiate them from original Switch cartridges. Maybe red, white or blue.
As for storage, Switch 2 cartridges should be 100 GB.
And then also if they’re gonna have more storage than Switch 1 cartridges, especially for some of the bigger third party games. In that route I’d say 100 GB would do for Switch 2 cartridges.
Well if the switch 2 is supposed to play current games then I don’t see anything changing.
It's like the USB drives...they look the same but a USB3 uses different PINs layout and color coded plugs so only ports for USB3 will take advantage of USB3 speeds but USB2 drives can still be used but not at USB3 speeds. So this analogy is backward thinking. One has to think outside of the box here. Forgot to add those Switch 2 carts will probably have a chipset built in so to prevent users trying to mod their carts to look like Switch 2 carts. This will be another security measure Nintendo will implement. But I hope they give us 3D nand carts so the cost is less to Devs.
Switch 2 cartridges have no shape difference compared to Switch cartridges, but now they are red and have faster speeds.
Also why is the Switch 2 logo vertical? You can barely see it like that.
It’s still unknown if Switch 2 game cards will hold more storage now, like somewhere between 64 and 100GB.
I find it interesting that they didn't change the shape more (like the notch on 3DS).
@LuigiTheGreenFire I mean it’s not the same as back with the DS and 3DS where the DS OS couldn’t have easily been updated to not read 3DS cartridges, so they added a notch for 3DS games back then.
Nowadays it’s easier to just update the OS to make sure an older console doesn’t read cartridges for a newer console, so Nintendo found that easier to do than add some sort of shape difference for Switch 2 cartridges.
If this is anything to go by, Switch 2 cartridges will now be able to hold 64GB. I was hoping for 100GB especially in the case of them getting games close to that size.
Cyberpunk 2077 was confirmed to be on a 64GB card: https://www.cyberpunk.net/en/news/51356/cyberpunk-2077-ultima...
If this is anything to go by, Switch 2 cartridges will now be able to hold 64GB. I was hoping for 100GB especially in the case of them getting games close to that size.
I could see 64 GB as the limit, at least for now. Nintendo is so great at file sizes that perhaps none of their games will need more than 64 GB (excluding potential DLC).
For the many third-party games that will need more, there can just have a download for the rest of the data.
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Topic: What could Game Cards look like?
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