Nintendo recently caused a stir when it announced that the upcoming digital version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, the eagerly awaited sequel to 2017’s widely acclaimed Zelda: Breath of the Wild, would require an astonishing 23GB of data storage on a Nintendo Switch system’s internal storage. As one of the latest entries in the beloved Legend of Zelda franchise, the sequel’s enormous file size comes as a surprise to fans who already own an expansive collection of cards, discs and digital re-releases of older titles.
Due to the limited internal memory of the Nintendo Switch, this game-size revelation has come as a major setback for many collectors of Nintendo products. Long-time fans may be tempted to go through their physical collections to create enough space for the anticipated release, but with the Switch sporting just 32GB of storage, gamers may still find themselves facing a difficult choice between their past titles and the next installment in a beloved franchise.
The 23GB requirement for such an iconic franchise is a concerning signal of the increased demand for storage space. Video game developers are creating bigger experiences than ever before, with increasingly high-resolution visuals requiring larger and larger files to be stored. These games cater to an audience of growing numbers of players, and as a result, the ambition of these games has skyrocketed.
This issue is not exclusive to Nintendo. Major developers such as Microsoft, Sony and Ubisoft are all creating experiences that consume large amounts of storage on a wide range of console systems. The recent announcement of Grand Theft Auto 6 saw the latest installment of Rockstar’s classic franchise dangerously close to the 200GB mark, while the Last of Us Part II and Halo Infinite both topped 100GB on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One respectively.
That said, Nintendo should take notice of the problem of its not-so-capacious Switch memory. Despite the reasonable 32GB of space on offer, developers must come up with an alternative solution that can accommodate bigger and better games without sacrificing the beloved titles that occupy much of the collection.
In the end, developers and console companies alike will need to rise to the challenge of properly providing gamers with enough storage to be able to enjoy their favorite franchises and the new games that come out each year. The issue is growing faster than the storage capacity for the Nintendo Switch, and it’s only a matter of time before a solution is properly implemented. Otherwise, the future of gaming may be in for a storage crunch.
Switch’s Latest Zelda Adventure is Too Big for its Own Good
Nintendo’s latest installment in the Legend of Zelda series, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom , recently hit shelves with a whopping 32GB file size. This highlights a crucial problem with the Switch’s limited storage capabilities, and is an issue that might force Nintendo to either offer more internal memory or reconsider future file sizes.
Nintendo Switch Storage Shortage
The biggest problem facing Tears of the Kingdom is its size. While this new entry into the Zelda series clocks in at 32GB, the Switch’s main storage option is a measly 32GB. This essentially means that players won’t be able to install both the physical retail game and have any other downloads if they have a regular Switch system.
This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that the Nintendo Switch Online app for voice chat also takes up more storage. This leaves little-to-no room for other applications or downloads, an issue Nintendo needs to address in their future consoles.
The Future of Switch Storage
Nintendo must reconsider their storage capacity if they want the Switch to remain competitive. Other consoles on the market provide various storage options, from 500GB to full terabyte hard drives. In comparison, the Nintendo Switch is severely lacking. The company must provide more internal storage capacity or offer expandable or external storage to keep up with the competition.
Nintendo must also figure out how to ensure games are not released with such large file sizes in the future. Developers must focus on optimizing their games so they can run accurately without taking up so much internal space. This is something that Nintendo needs to work on and address to ensure their console remains up-to-date and can provide the best gaming experiences.
Conclusion
The large file size of Nintendo’s Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom hightlights a crucial problem with limited storage capabilities of the Switch. Nintendo must offer more internal storage options and work with developers to optimize game sizes if they want the console to remain competitive.
