Report: Nintendo Switch 2 Cartridges to Use 3D NAND for Lower Costs and Higher Capacity

A recent financial report from a key Nintendo supply chain partner has provided intriguing clues about the technology behind the upcoming Switch 2's game cartridges. According to a report from financial media outlet U-Analysis, Macronix Electronics, a major supplier for Nintendo, hinted at a significant shift in storage technology for the next-generation console.

In its second-quarter earnings report, Macronix noted that its ROM revenue saw a 2% year-over-year decline, attributing it to a "transition period" for Nintendo's gaming platform. The company anticipates that the launch of the Switch 2, expected in June 2025, will gradually drive the recovery and growth of its ROM product shipments, though the exact timing and scale will depend on market demand.

The most revealing detail from Macronix was its future strategy for producing physical game cartridges. The company stated it will procure both self-made MLC NAND and externally sourced 3D NAND flash chips to manufacture cartridges for games of varying capacities. While Macronix did not explicitly name the Switch 2, industry analysts, such as those at NoteBookCheck, believe the context strongly implies these new cartridges are intended for Nintendo's next console.

This technological shift to 3D NAND is significant. Unlike MLC NAND, which stores two bits of information per memory cell, 3D NAND can store three bits. This increased density could lead to Switch 2 cartridges that are cheaper to produce and offer a wider variety of storage capacities. However, this transition may come with trade-offs, as 3D NAND technology could result in cartridges with a shorter lifespan and potentially slower read/write speeds compared to the current Switch cartridges.

Macronix is reportedly testing 3D NAND Switch 2 cartridges with capacities potentially exceeding 64GB. Even with the reduced manufacturing cost of 3D NAND, these high-capacity cartridges would still be more expensive than the controversial "key cards." This cost difference suggests that smaller developers may still prefer to use the key cards, which contain no game data and require a full download, for their releases.

In conclusion, the move towards incorporating 3D NAND flash in Switch 2 cartridges signals Nintendo's effort to balance cost and capacity for its physical media. This approach could provide large-scale games with the high-capacity cartridges they need, while smaller developers can opt for more economical solutions. The potential impact on performance and longevity will be a key factor to watch as more details about the Switch 2 emerge.

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