With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 today, one of the first things homebrew enthusiasts set out to do was see if the MIG Switch flashcart would work on the console. Prior to release, retailers of the flashcart were claiming that it worked with the Switch 2, but thanks to the efforts of users on GBAtemp, it appears that it in fact does not work. Beginning with the post in this thread, here, with a photo of a Switch 2 and MIG Switch resulting in an error code. Whether or not there is a workaround or fix is uncertain. Furthermore, a MIG Switch retailer posted about having a Switch 2 unit a month ahead of launch, stating that the unit worked, with what appear to be misleading claims. The potentially shady practices shown here.

Source

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

microSD and carts are very similar in nature and can, as you say, have pretty wild variations on speeds... yes, BUT, when doing a few passes for a few MBs and timing the response speeds and averaging them, if there is fundamental differences, I bet they can be safely detected. I mean, even with noise or deviations accounted for, I think there is robust ways to detect different nature by timing. Now, IF this was the case and MiG Switch supported faster microSDs ( maybe using microSD express on the MiG Switch itself ? maybe it'd need a MiG Switch fw upgrade... ) to work at close to original cart speed, then we would be on a narrower scenario where those fundamental timing differences no longer worked.

Are these speculated results using only high end SD cards, if so, what brands and models? Or are the results just based on averages from whatever was sitting around? Most consumers don't actually use high end SD cards, and in fact, will use brands that aren't even good name brands. Most consumers also don't know the differences with the SD card types and grades out there. Part of that has to do with the lack of research, but the other part of that has to do with price. Most aren't willing to spend a lot for an SD card. How do we know the MIG Switch itself isn't limited at the I/O level to certain speeds. Not all flash devices have the same access speeds despite running with the same partition format capabilities and such.

 

[Inaki]

Are these speculated results using only high end SD cards, if so, what brands and models? Or are the results just based on averages from whatever was sitting around? Most consumers don't actually use high end SD cards, and in fact, will use brands that aren't even good name brands. Most consumers also don't know the differences with the SD card types and grades out there. Part of that has to do with the lack of research, but the other part of that has to do with price. Most aren't willing to spend a lot for an SD card.

Honestly and bluntly, I don't know but regular microSD cards, even those that say they reach 160MB/s or so, tend to give 120MB/s for most reads. The speculation says original Switch 1 carts are technically 190MB/s, but the Switch 1 cart reader would read at way lower speeds. The Switch 2 would be reading the Switch 1 carts at their nominal/max. speed and measuring the speed, which would be faster with enough margin to those seen on MiG Switch with regular microSD cards. Probably even the best breed of regular microSD cards will be slower by a big enough margin. Now, depending on:

a) this speculation being more or less aligned to reality ( )
b) MiG Switch being able to support 190MB/s ( they say it is in fact able to ) and being able to support microSD express ( so that 190MB/s is achievable, which doesn't seem to be with regular microSD cards ). Which, I don't know if microSD express is usable in any microSD reader and just gives faster speeds without needing specific support or if it needs specific support. If microSD express requires specific support, MiG Switch may be able to add the microSD express support via a fw update.

EDIT: microSD express uses PCIe for fast speed even if it is backwards compatible and readable with regular microSD protocol ( again, maybe in this mode they can give 190MB/s, maybe not; and again, maybe MiG Switch can add this reading mode for using PCIe via fw update, maybe not ).

EDIT2: https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-microsd-card-130038282.html
It seems like 180-190MB/s is achievable with some regular microSD cards.

Heh, yes, too much, and a big bag of wishful thinking. But again, not that I mind too much.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Honestly and bluntly, I don't know but regular microSD cards, even those that say they reach 160MB/s or so, tend to give 120MB/s for most reads. The speculation says original Switch 1 carts are technically 190MB/s, but the Switch 1 cart reader would read at way lower speeds. The Switch 2 would be reading the Switch 1 carts at their nominal/max. speed and measuring the speed, which would be faster with enough margin to those seen on MiG Switch with regular microSD cards. Probably even the best breed of regular microSD cards will be slower by a big enough margin. Now, depending on:

a) this speculation being more or less aligned to reality ( )
b) MiG Switch being able to support 190MB/s ( they say it is in fact able to ) and being able to support microSD express ( so that 190MB/s is achievable, which doesn't seem to be with regular microSD cards ). Which, I don't know if microSD express is usable in any microSD reader and just gives faster speeds without needing specific support or if it needs specific support. If microSD express requires specific support, MiG Switch may be able to add the microSD express support via a fw update.

Heh, yes, too much, and a big bag of wishful thinking. But again, not that I mind too much.

Updated my post with an extra comment, you may want to read that part and update your post if necessary.

 

[linuxares]

No way it (only) detects "read speed" since they can change so much depending on a lot of other factors. Hell its like the internet would only run on UDP and everything would crash and burn.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

No way it (only) detects "read speed" since they can change so much depending on a lot of other factors. Hell it's like the internet would only run on UDP and everything would crash and burn.

*Sniffs aggressively.*

Time to put this to the test.

 

[linuxares]

*Sniffs aggressively.*

Time to put this to the test.

Which part? Running the internet only on UDP?

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Which part? Running the internet only on UDP?

Yes.

I also need something flammable and a lighter to give dramatic effect to this process. Totally not cheated.

 

[Inaki]

Updated my post with an extra comment, you may want to read that part and update your post if necessary.

I did edit my post for further info on microSD express ( PICe ), but I reread your post and didn't see anything new or... do you mean internal speed limitation on MiG Switch ? With a fast enough but regular microSD card, I think 190MB/s is a bit on the very high speed side, too high I'd say... but it seems MiG Switch itself would be able to work at 190MB/s. Now, as I said in my post, that maybe achievable per se, using a microSD express ( even in backward compatibility mode, if it gives bigger than normal/regular microSD card speeds ), maybe with a fw update ( for adding microSD express specific support or just for adjusting internal speeds but still working in backwards compatibility mode )...

EDIT: https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-microsd-card-130038282.html
It seems like 180-190MB/s is achievable with some regular microSD cards.

 

[LightyKD]

I want to know is if anyone tried a Switch 2 game card with the USB Mig Switch card reader.

 

[raxadian]

Well of course Nintendo would block it.

Also considering Nintendo can and will remotely brick Switch 2s if they feel like it, do not try to hack it if you plan to use it online at all.

 

[TheStonedModder]

Well of course Nintendo would block it.

Also considering Nintendo can and will remotely brick Switch 2s if they feel like it, do not try to hack it if you plan to use it online at all.

That last sentence has been proven false so many times

Think about it, it doesn’t even sound feasible

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

I did edit my post for further info on microSD express ( PICe ), but I reread your post and didn't see anything new or... do you mean internal speed limitation on MiG Switch ? With a fast enough but regular microSD card, I think 190MB/s is a bit on the very high speed side, too high I'd say... but it seems MiG Switch itself would be able to work at 190MB/s. Now, as I said in my post, that maybe achievable per se, using a microSD express ( even in backward compatibility mode, if it gives bigger than normal/regular microSD card speeds ), maybe with a fw update ( for adding microSD express specific support or just for adjusting internal speeds but still working in backwards compatibility mode )...

In order to incorporate microSD express, you would need a hardware revision, by extension an entire rewrite of the I/O, since standard UHS-I slots only account for a single row connections and speeds. UHS-II incorporates the two row pinout connections, then Express to I guess optimize things further. You definitely don't need Express speeds though, UHS-II is already pretty overkill. I think if anything it's more than likely I/O limitations that prevent the full potential of SD read and write speeds, because even standard adapters just to access the storage mediums aren't always made the same, not accounting for other standard related limitations like the USB I/O and such. But the reality is, these sorts of limitations exist virtually in everything that has access to storage mediums, so this isn't even an unusual situation.

 

[Inaki]

Well of course Nintendo would block it.

Also considering Nintendo can and will remotely brick Switch 2s if they feel like it, do not try to hack it if you plan to use it online at all.

Heh, let them try that bricking in Europe... mega-lawsuit incoming and they'd very probably lose

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Well of course Nintendo would block it.

Also considering Nintendo can and will remotely brick Switch 2s if they feel like it, do not try to hack it if you plan to use it online at all.

You have the wrong idea here. They aren't going to send a payload over the net to nuke your system firmware and such. They are just being way more forward with their wording by saying that they will absolutely gimp the usability of the system, if they detect unintended actions being performed on said platform. This basically means nothing new in reality because all that it means is, they'll ban you by restricting online access on your system and such, which could effect different aspects of the system that makes use of the online environment. So basically, they could maybe restrict your access to the eShop, prevent you from using their online services for things like multiplayer, etc.. This is traditional stuff that any company offering an online service does, has done, or will do at one point or another.

 

[impeeza]

I want to know is if anyone tried a Switch 2 game card with the USB Mig Switch card reader.

Yes MIG team and supposedly UnlockSwitch did it and didn't work, is another type of memory.

 

[Inaki]

In order to incorporate microSD express, you would need a hardware revision, by extension an entire rewrite of the I/O, since standard UHS-I slots only account for a single row connections and speeds. UHS-II incorporates the two row pinout connections, then Express to I guess optimize things further. You definitely don't need Express speeds though, UHS-II is already pretty overkill. I think if anything it's more than likely I/O limitations that prevent the full potential of SD read and write speeds, because even standard adapters just to access the storage mediums aren't always made the same, not accounting for other standard related limitations like the USB I/O and such. But the reality is, these sorts of limitations exist virtually in everything that has access to storage mediums, so this isn't even an unusual situation.

https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-microsd-card-130038282.html
It seems like 180-190MB/s is achievable with some regular microSD cards.

microSD express gives way higher speeds in specific PCIe mode, but in backwards mode, regular microSD cards ( not sure if the MiG Switch supports UHS-II ) give up to 312MB/s. Is UHS-II still regular microSD ? would MiG Switch microSD slot have the required pinout to support UHS-II ? the fw could be updated if the physical pinout is there...

really good video explaining everything SD

UHS-I with propietary implementations can give up to 250MB/s theoretical peak, but according to the link I posted, the real sustained speed of these UHS-I with propietary implementation is around 180-190MB/s. So still UHS-I or kinda... maybe MiG Switch can indeed use this. A good UHS-I with propietary implementation would do the trick.

 

[ChibiMofo]

Post automatically merged: Jun 5, 2025

Trust STD. When he his not hating, he knows stuff.

Trust organized criminals. That's always good advice.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-microsd-card-130038282.html
It seems like 180-190MB/s is achievable with some regular microSD cards.

microSD express gives way higher speeds in specific PCIe mode, but in backwards mode, regular microSD cards ( not sure if the MiG Switch supports UHS-II ) give up to 312MB/s. Is UHS-II still regular microSD ? would MiG Switch microSD slot have the required pinout to support UHS-II ? the fw could be updated if the physical pinout is there...

UHS-II and Express both use double row pinouts, so either way you need a hardware revision to account for the standards. I'm just saying going straight for the bleeding edge technologies is a bit much given you don't actually need that much performance for stuff like this. UHS-II is the successor to the standard UHS-I microSD cards we see in the market, Express is a successor to UHS-II housing PCI-E capabilities. UHS-II generally is still managed over USB 3.0, maybe the occasional USB 3.1 standards, but UHS-II is much faster compared to your standard SD cards. Most consumers will never realistically have a need for these all things considered, unless you are a professional photographer, videographer, etc. or work in the industry, you likely won't even have devices that can actually take advantage of UHS-II or Express. The Nintendo Switch 2 would technically be one of the few instances where you have something more than the standard UHS-I microSD card to work with, but that's likely to compensate for load times and such for games, similar to the other systems using NVMe SSDs. Higher resolution content, tons of rendering, etc. you would need pretty fast access from the SD card in this case. Outside of that though, it's basically excessive for the standard consumer.

 

[Inaki]

UHS-II and Express both use double row pinouts, so either way you need a hardware revision to account for the standards. I'm just saying going straight for the bleeding edge technologies is a bit much given you don't actually need that much performance for stuff like this. UHS-II is the successor to the standard UHS-I microSD cards we see in the market, Express is a successor to UHS-II housing PCI-E capabilities. UHS-II generally is still managed over USB 3.0, maybe the occasional USB 3.1 standards, but UHS-II is much faster compared to your standard SD cards. Most consumers will never realistically have a need for these all things considered, unless you are a professional photographer, videographer, etc. or work in the industry, you likely won't even have devices that can actually take advantage of UHS-II or Express. The Nintendo Switch 2 would technically be one of the few instances where you have something more than the standard UHS-I microSD card to work with, but that's likely to compensate for load times and such for games, similar to the other systems using NVMe SSDs. Higher resolution content, tons of rendering, etc. you would need pretty fast access from the SD card in this case. Outside of that though, it's basically excessive for the standard consumer.

Please see my edit in the comment, UHS-I propietary can do 250MB/s read, 180-190MB/s in practice.

And yeah, both NVMe and microSD express do PICe and are, not the same, yes, but way faster and way more IOPS.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Please see my edit in the comment, UHS-I propietary can do 250MB/s read, 180-190MB/s in practice.

Right, I did see that, I was just clarifying that either way, you still need a hardware revision. In the case of the MIG Switch hitting that 180-190 MB/s, or the absolute 250 MB/s max, I don't foresee that happening. The thing about standards, you generally can't just use whatever you want when you design hardware, otherwise so many people would be using high end standards, probably where it isn't necessary anyways. There are restrictions, legal shenanigans, etc. when using certain standards. exFAT for example was created by Microsoft and introduced way back in 2006, yet if you were alive and used so many different devices that sported SD cards over time, you will have noticed that a lot of them didn't allow for exFAT standards, at the very most FAT32. Some standards have restrictions that make their integration into devices like the MIG Switch, to be a bit of a pain to exist. I don't think Microsoft wants to associate their technologies with something that while not intended for piracy, obviously has a big enough reputation of being misused for piracy, it's enough to make any company reasonably turn away or refuse the usage of their stuff. There have been weird half baked attempts to incorporate exFAT in the past with some devices out there, but those outcomes generally ended with very wonky support for software. Good chance my knowledge is outdated now, I don't know if Microsoft is lax about their exFAT standards now, but if so, then hey, maybe a possibility. I do recall a lot of restrictions back in the day though.