Nintendo Switch 2 will launch with 256 GB of internal storage — eight times the storage size of the original Switch. But some portion of that advertised 256 GB of storage is gobbled up by the Switch 2’s system software, meaning users won’t have access to the entire amount. That’s typical of virtually any device; the software required to run applications like the interface, GameChat, and Nintendo eShop needs storage too!

According to Nintendo’s published tech specs for Switch 2, an unidentified portion of the 256 GB of Universal Flash Storage (UFS) is reserved for use by the system. After getting our hands on a launch-day version of Switch 2, and installing the console’s day-one system update, we now have a better idea just how much is available to users.

After installing the system update and transferring Switch data to Switch 2, the available storage displayed approximately 228 GB to 230 GB of available storage, not counting any of the games, save data, or album images and videos that were transferred over.

That said, after redownloading my entire Switch library to Switch 2, I still have 160 GB remaining — plenty of space for actual native Switch 2 games. Plus, Switch 2 storage can be expanded with microSD Express cards, so if 256 GB seems meager to you, available storage can quickly be doubled for less than the cost of a physical copy of Mario Kart World.