Walmart's Onn Brand Offers Budget Storage for Nintendo Switch 2
Private label microSD Express cards provide a low-cost alternative as the new console mandates a storage upgrade.
Nintendo Switch 2 users facing a mandatory storage upgrade now have a budget-friendly option via Walmart's private label Onn brand. The move comes as the new hardware introduces a strict compatibility break with previous generation memory cards.
Walmart is positioning its Onn microSD Express cards as a primary solution for users seeking affordable expansion. Amid a broader "memory crisis" characterized by stagnant or rising costs, these private label cards aim to provide a stable price point for the gaming community. Specifically, the Onn 512GB microSD Express card is priced at $84.77, offering a critical point of entry for users needing significant additional space to house their digital libraries.
The Storage Mandate
The transition to the Switch 2 is not a seamless one for existing owners. The console requires microSD Express cards, meaning standard microSD cards used in the original Nintendo Switch are entirely incompatible. While the Nintendo Switch 2 comes equipped with 256GB of onboard storage, the shift in hardware standards forces a mandatory upgrade cycle for any user wishing to expand their library beyond the internal capacity.
Industry Implications
This hardware shift creates a critical dependency on affordable third-party storage. Because users cannot reuse their old cards, the cost of entry for the Switch 2 ecosystem effectively includes the price of new memory. In a market where memory prices are volatile, private label options like Onn are essential for maintaining consumer accessibility. Without these budget alternatives, the cost of maintaining a modern AAA game library would rise significantly for the average gamer, potentially creating a financial barrier to entry for the new hardware.
What to Watch
As more titles launch for the Switch 2, the actual storage demands of next-generation games will determine if 256GB of internal space is sufficient or if external expansion becomes a day-one necessity for most. While the Onn cards provide a current price floor, it remains to be seen if other major retailers will introduce competing private label Express cards to drive prices further down. The long-term viability of the console's ecosystem may depend on whether the industry can keep the cost of these mandatory storage upgrades in check as game file sizes continue to grow.