Planning On Downloading Xenoblade Chronicles 3D? You Might Need A Bigger microSD Card

8GB or larger?! I guess I'll get this at retail

They goofed!

Man I so want to play this game, but I have it on the WII original no used copy with the shiny red controller and digital soundtrack but I can't somehow invest long time on a console game.
The soundtrack is amazing, the design fantastic but the combat somehow never really stuck with me.

I have more then enough room

Nintendo's memory storage decisions baffle me constantly. They really do. "Hey kiddies, you need the new system to play this game but if you want to download it, you need an upgrade because we cheaped out and gave you a tiny one". You need 2 upgrades (system and memory card) yo play this game. That's too much for some consumers. If they want the eshop to grow (which is pure profit for them), storage shouldnt be an issue for customers. I love Nintendo, I really do. But this round of hardware will be my last for a while. I will cherish what I have but im tired of being an unsatisfied consumer. Hello PS4 with 500gbs.

@Nintendofan83 500GB is nowhere near enough memory space for Xbox One and PS4 if you want digital. 1TB is pushing the limits.

@Nintendofan83 that 500 gbs will last you just as long as the 3DS' 4GB. Nintendo does a really good job compressing the data for their games to make the file sizes small. Sony and third parties do not. My brother got an Xbox One with its own 500GB of storage for xmas. 90 or so of those GB were gone immediately to be used for the OS. In less than 4 months, he's down to less than 150GB left and only has 5 or 6 games. So yeah it looks like a lot more than what you get with Ninty, but it goes away just as quickly and you'll be upgrading your hard drive with any console you get these days.

I got a 32 GB in my N3DS XL right now, so I'm all set.

Why couldn't Nintendo slapped a 16gb or 32Gb into it? I understand the 4,GB one but if you're to release one bigger, why not go the extra mile? A Samsung 16GB is like 8 euros, and that's retail and class 10.

Not surprised. Xenoblade is a massive game as it is. But for those that don't already own a New 3DS and is planning on getting one, then I'm sure that Nintendo will release a special edition Xenoblade Chronicles New 3DS. So downloading the game is out of the question, because it will either come pre installed on the system or the game will come as a physical copy...

I'm definitely getting a retail copy. I don't think I'll be able to stand having my 3DS download something that large!

Lol, whoops. Kind of funnny that the only exclusive game won't even fit on the SD card right out of the box. I think I would have rather them get rid of the SD card and give us a charger instead. Most of us will just buy larger SD cards anyway, and 4 GB just isn't a lot to work with.

woaj

Nintendo are doing us a favour by cutting costs. I recently talked my brother through a system transfer and the complete over-wifi option turned out to be the easiest for him due to only owning 3 virtual console games. We're talking about <20MB. For him, his original 2GB card was massively overkill. It's not like he doesn't own a ton of games - it's just that he always prefers to get the cartridge due to usually being cheaper. The same is also true of my other brother, who is still on his original 3DS hardware. Now why should they have to pay the price just to keep download-hogs happy? Seems like Nintendo are giving us the best of both worlds (especially as you can still get Xenoblade on cartridge too). Now pay your £10, get a 32GB card, and pipe down.

doesn't bother me. I already have my retail copy preordered anyways. I think I'm going to go physical unless it's download only. That way I can always trade in games if I don't play them anymore, which ended up happening on my Pokemon XL.

I don't have a retail copy preordered yet, I should probably get on that...

In the even that I forget and can't find a retail copy, the download will still be able to fit on my 32 GB card, but I'm not sure if I want to dedicate all that space to one game.

So retail takes priority, but if not, download works too

i have a 32 gig im fine was goign to get this digital regardless..

@Ainze I disagree, namely because of the New 3DS design. Anything involving transfers is a complete nightmare. If you've looked around the forums much you'll have seen many threads/comments where either the transfer hasn't worked, can't open up the back panel without damaging it, etc.

Fact: micro SDHC cards are cheap nowadays, as some of you have pointed out already. So - why is getting a bigger card and swapping it such a big problem? Those are just two little screws and a simple manual operation, and the cost is frankly nothing compared to the cost of New 3DS. I don't get it, just as I don't get all those "SD-card-size-small-omg" threads...

Besides, there's also physical option, so... Really...

I'd rather have this physical anyhow. Not surprised it's so big, though.

I swear I saw this news months ago. <_<

EDIT: or 32 days ago: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/02/youd_better_get_a_bigger_micro-sdhc_card_for_xenoblade_chronicles_3d

@Grumblevolcano - My brother's transfer went perfectly over the air. And mine went fine without me breaking my panel. And the best part? My brother didn't have to spend £10 more. He has 4GB and is happy. I have 32GB and am happy. As DJKeens just said: "I don't expect users who don't [download] to pay for the additional space." - That would just be a jerk move.

I'm not the the kind of guy that downloads retail games from the eshop, so I'll probably buy this in stores.

Unless this version of xenoblade chronicles get's as rare as the wii version, I won't have a choice.

Have a 16 gig in mine. I buying a physical copy. Gots to have a box.

Not a big deal. A 64GB, class 10 micro SD can usually be had for $25. 32GB is usually significantly less. They're always on sale somewhere. As for me, I may just go physical. Downloading a file that big may take an eternity on on a 3DS, also I want something in there to protect the cartridge port.

@nintendofan83 as everyone else said, 500GB is extremely paltry for the PS4 and XB1, think you're safe on storage if you buy physical? Think again. Unlike the Wii U/3DS there's a mandatory disc install.

I thought we already covered this topic? O.o

Either way I don't care as I'm sitting on a 64 gig anyways. Still have over 200k blocks. Could pick up a 128gb for 50$ on EBay right now but not sure enough 3ds games will come out to warrant that purchase from now till the end of its life.

@Ainze I can't speak on the over the air transfer as I already had a micro SD, but I had absolutely no problem getting the back off of mine. It's probably a case of folks not taking care in removing it. That said, it could stand to be a stronger grade of plastic, like on the backs of the Samsung Galaxy phones.

@Ainze Normally I would say yes As it was a nice post but if you include a bigger memory card it encourages people to dl more and that benefits Nintendo. It's a low cost for them to even include a 16 gig as they will make up that cost in about 2 VC games. I do agree it's our choice but this here is silly as it Doesn't encourage you to dl If you're a new user to the 3ds. Nintendo makes fat more money off dl's so give a bigger card.

@Spoony_Tech Probably the only sane argument for including a bigger card (even if it isn't so consumer friendly!).

I also installed a PNY 128GB MicroSDXC Card into my New 3DS XL. So I'm all set! If your going to use a 64GB or larger MicroSDXC Card. Remember to set your cluster size to 32k when formatting to FAT32 or you may run into a few issues.

Already Pre ordered retail anyway.

@Spoony_Tech - I'm guessing Ninteod didn't include a card bigger than 4GB because they thought 30,474 BLOCKS was enough for anybody.

The state of video games in 2015:
Buying SD cards instead of the actual game.

thats just uncalled for

That's embarrassing. I think if they want to promote downloading instead of buying physical, they should include a bigger microSD card. And I don't see that increasing the price of the console, Nintendo should be able to get 8 or 16 GB microSD cards pretty cheaply. As it is, don't they take a loss on the hardware and make it up with software sales?

Wow. What is the only reason to buy a New 3DS and you can't even download it to your New 3DS unless you add more space... And yet, there's another reason why the New 3DS is unappealing...

Lol. I've got to admit, it's pretty funny at how well thought out this whole thing was. I mean damn guys what were you thinking?

This game wasn't meant to be digital anyways.

64gb Micro SDXC, I'm good

But you dont have to buy a expensive propietary memory card for it so just a few extra bucks.

Not a prob for my 32GB. I was such a hater for digital downloads a few years ago but now that Ive switched over I LOVE it. Love never having to switch out cartridges and always having all my games on me.

Remember the gamecube and it's 3 different memory card sizes? lol

Oh Nintendo you make me laugh sometimes.

I got a 16GB MicroSD card that I was using in an adapter on my old 3DS. So I just had to take the card out of the adapter and put it in the New 3DS once the transfer finished. Not planning on getting this game, but if I did, I'd buy it on a game card - prefer to do that with retail releases.

Oh Nintendo, you never were that great at planning

I always found 4GB kind of low now that it's 2015 and Nintendo's fully embraced digital distribution. The fact that you need to unscrew the back of the N3DS to even get to the card only adds to the troubles, and considering Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is the first game to actually need the new system to work makes this whole situation that much weirder. Ah well.

@Takerkaneanite6 xenoblade chronicles 3D will be a physical game too, this is for the people that like digital games.

I believe that is the largest portable game ever released-ps vita included. The largest Vita release was around 3.5 gb(uncharted golden abyss). Sounds like this game has a ton of content.

@BarryDunne How would that translate in US currency and would it work in a different region?

the problem is having to use a screwdrive to replace the sd card, that's horrible console design

Perhaps this will convince Oddworld Inhabitants to stop messing around and get Oddworld New & Tasty released on the Wii U E-shop. Anyone who wants to download games knows that they have to buy more memory than the tiny amount of free space Nintendo provide with their consoles

@Nintendofan83 perhaps its just me, but surely the people who think its too much effort to get an extra memory card probably won't be the people who wil be downloading a game anyway. This is a retail title too so any clueless parents will probably buy the game physically

This isn't really a surprise to me. Xenoblade Chronicles is such as huge game that I never expected it to fit on the SD car in the first place. This is also one of the reasons why I prefer physical to digital.

@Godlygamer I missed out on the original Nintendo Wii version of this game and so I have preemptively preordered two copies of this game as I would like to keep one new and sealed just in case it DOES become as rare.

I wonder how many copies this needs to sell to be considered a "success". This game has a lot stacked against it from succeeding since it's only for the New 3ds hardware and the majority of the install base is shut out.

Very 1st thing I did with my New 3DS was stick a 32gb card in, why wouldn't you, you can get them for under $15

tho I payed more for a super fast one

I simply don't care about this game

Easy solution: buy the physical version.

Still undecided on whether I'll go physical or digital.

lmao I prefer physical copies as it helps make my memory storage last longer. Mind you I have the space for it but I like having something tangible to hold and look at when it comes to quality games.

This is why 64GB SD Micro cards exist...

How big is the actual download? Fat32 file system caps out at 4Gb max filesize, and 3DS does not support ExFAT so a game larger than 4Gb would have to be split into smaller files. That said, I believe a 4Gb SD card actually holds around 3.5-3.7 binary gigabytes.

I wonder what the max storage capacity of 3DS is?

Nope, not getting it. I was already on the fence with the less that flattering textures and graphics. They lost me. I hope well for the game, but I am officially watching for the sidelines.

Right now what I'm debating is whether or not selling my already collectors' item-quality copy of XBC Wii for a digital or even physical NN3DS version is even worth it. They should at least attempt a cross-buy promotion offer for those lucky to own the Wii game... XP

We've had this before. Bravely Default just barely fits on the base card, just barely.
The 4GB class 4 card that's included must have cost them less than a buck.
Still, if they have included something like a 16GB UHS1 card, I would have still upgraded it.

Latest Nintendo consoles storage issues, ordered by ascending order of importance / annoyance, as seen by yours truly:

• The SD card found in the Nintendo 3DS can be swapped without additional tools, but their capacity is limited to 32GiB cards.
• The card on the microSD slot on the New Nintendo 3DS can be swapped, just not on the go due to the fact a screwdriver is needed. (For listening my ever-growing music library found on my phone on long distances when trying to preserve phone battery, for using GPS and whatnot)
• The internal 8GiB / 32 GiB drive found on the Wii U is not user replaceable. Connecting an external hard / flash drive is mandatory for downloading bigger retail games.

I will buy a physical copy never got the chance to play the wii version!

Anyone with an inch of common sense will realise this is a con. A 4GB memory card, that's way too low, then you have to take the 3DS apart to slot in another memory card. Look at the Vita, high capacity memory cards are a rip off, the console doesn't even come packaged with one. This sort of thing has been going on for years and years. But Nintendo are kings at milking fans with added extras.

@PachterStation Anyone with an inch of common sense will realise that Nintendo doesn't sell Micro-SD cards.

Anyways, physical always.

@JetForceSetGrind So what? It still comes at a cost to upgrade. You mean to tell me that Nintendo didn't know before the New 3DS was released that a 4GB micro SD card wouldn't be suitable for future games? Nintendo has a history with this tactic. If Nintendo releases another handheld, it wouldn't surprise me if they do what Sony did with the Vita memory card fiasco. The cost of the 3DS at the moment, added costs are far from ideal.

@bizcuthammer Actually Sony and MS are much better with compression than Nintendo. Watchdogs U is nearly 5GB larger in size despite being confirmed as being the EXACT same as the PS3 version.

Look at the gulf in graphics between Sony and Nintendo systems - even some AAA 1st and 2nd party PS3 titles took up to 50gb discs due to the incredible high quality assets being used -blowing the 360 out of the water. I still switch on my PS3 and completely blown away by Uncharted 2, 3, K2, 3, Gt 5, 6, GOW 3, 4 thinking is it really a 2006 console? The quality of graphics in those games put the Wii U to shame.

We'll never see a Wii U game feature the true cinematic quality only Sony's top studios can produce unfortunately. Thus downloads will remain under 25GB.

I still can't upgrade my SD card until Nintendo fixes my issue. Nothing transfers over.

Same thing happened with the Wii u and inadequate memory.
Memory cards for Nintendo to buy in bulk are cheap and would add very little to the cost of a 3ds.
I added a 16 GB from new and now have a wasted 4gb.
But if I buy xenoblade it will be a hard copy. At least it has a trade in value.

I think Nintendo will loose quite a few download sales because of this.

I have two Wiis, one is hacked and my Wii U. I play this game on the Wii U but I don't want my son to ruin a game that could cost me $100 to replace. I copied it to a flash drive on the hacked Wii and it is about 6.5GB. I can only assume that the 3DS will be about the same size if not larger. Moral of my story? Get the biggest memory card you can, no less than 64GB and get a Class10 while you're at it. You can get them on the internet for way less than they cost at a retail store. Be sure to read the reviews thoroughly. Even though I ordered a card that was rated over 4 stars, almost all the reviews in the last year show the cards either DOA or died shortly after getting them. I actually had both happen.