If you’ve been waiting for a reason to finally pick up a Nintendo Switch 2 — or to stop juggling installs on a crowded SD card — the last few days have been generous. Retailers have been quietly restocking console bundles and trimming prices on the new, faster microSD Express cards the Switch 2 requires. The savings aren’t uniform, but a couple of clear bargains have emerged that are worth acting on while inventory lasts.
Mario Kart bundles and unexpected package savings
Amazon and Walmart have both been offering the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle for about $449 — effectively a $50 discount off the usual bundle pricing. That’s notable because it’s the first meaningful price drop the new hardware has seen since launch, and it’s being treated like a flash sale in many places. If you want more than Mario Kart, Amazon has also run a larger bundle including Donkey Kong Bananza that reduces the overall price on both games — a smart move if you were going to buy those first-party titles anyway.
These sorts of bundles can shift quickly; dynamic pricing and restocks mean today’s sweet deal can be gone (or more expensive) tomorrow. If you’re thinking long term: Nintendo has been crystal clear about supporting the Switch 2 with a steady release schedule and growing third-party support, so the hardware looks like a safe bet for new games and accessories in 2026 (see Nintendo’s updated sales forecast and release plans for context) — and that’s part of why bundles like these matter now rather than later. Check the console offers when you’re ready and consider adding a protective case or power bank to your cart if you plan on taking the handheld anywhere.
Storage: the real bottleneck — and where the bargains are
The Switch 2 ships with 256GB of internal storage. That’s a big step up from the old Switch, but modern titles for the platform can be surprisingly large: some first-party releases and multiplatform ports are routinely 20–70GB. For that reason, most owners will want to expand with a microSD Express card, the new ultra-fast format Nintendo requires to expand the Switch 2’s storage.
Right now the standout deal is the Samsung P9 512GB microSD Express, which has seen temporary discounts to roughly the mid-$70s in the US. If you need a half-terabyte of fast, reliable storage, that’s tough to beat. For shoppers after a full terabyte, options like the Lexar Play Pro 1TB or TeamGroup Apex 1TB have also dipped in price, though one-terabyte Express cards remain pricier than their UHS-I predecessors.
If you’re comparing the new Express cards to older Switch microSDs, be careful: the older, inexpensive Samsung microSDXC lines that worked perfectly in the original Switch are not compatible as an expansion option for the Switch 2 — they simply don’t reach the Express speed spec Nintendo demands. If you own both a legacy Switch and a Switch 2, you'll need different cards for each. For quick shopping, the Samsung P9 and other recommended Express cards are available on Amazon.
Why the Express format matters (and how much speed you actually need)
microSD Express is a leap in raw throughput compared with UHS-I cards. Reads commonly sit in the 800–900MB/s range on Express models, whereas older cards topped out around 150MB/s. Practically speaking, that means shorter load times when transferring or installing large files and a more future-proofed storage solution as game sizes continue to climb.
That said: the Switch 2’s own performance envelope likely doesn’t need the absolute fastest write speeds available. Several reputable brands offer Express cards with similar read speeds but different sustained write characteristics; Samsung’s 512GB P9 has been positioned as an especially cost-effective choice because it hits the sweet spot between speed, reliability, and price.
Shopping tips and quick recommendations
- If you’re buying a console now and want the easiest, cheapest route to a full library: grab the Mario Kart bundle at the discounted $449 price while it’s in stock. If you can find the three-item bundle with Donkey Kong at a slight premium, it’s a decent extra saving on a top-tier first-party release.
- If storage is your priority: go for at least 512GB in microSD Express. The Samsung P9 512GB deal is the most consistent bargain on the market right now — a practical upgrade that keeps you from constantly deleting and redownloading titles.
- Looking for 1TB? Lexar and TeamGroup are among the better 1TB options; watch for flash-sale days and retailer-exclusive models (Walmart and Best Buy occasionally have exclusives with competitive pricing).
- Don’t confuse older Switch microSD cards with the Switch 2 Express requirement. They’ll work in original Switch consoles but are not the right choice for storage expansion on the Switch 2.
Deals ebb and flow during this holiday stretch. If you want to keep an eye on game-focused storage and console pricing in context, Nintendo’s increased sales forecasts and the company’s refreshed release schedule help explain why retailers are experimenting with bundles and discounts right now. If you want a quick refresher on upcoming first-party titles that will gobble space, a recent trailer for Metroid Prime 4 is an early reminder that big downloads are here to stay.
Happy hunting. If you’re buying, think about pairing the console with a good travel case and a power bank so the new hardware actually goes wherever you go — that combo makes a discounted bundle feel like an instant upgrade.
Related reading: Nintendo’s improved sales outlook and what it means for Switch 2 owners are worth a look as Nintendo raises its forecast, and Nintendo’s roadmap for the platform puts some of the biggest upcoming releases on the calendar in its release plan.