TL;DR
The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 version of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has had its estimated file size revealed by Nintendo Life, clocking in at roughly 65–70GB. This figure signals that the next-generation handheld will demand significantly larger storage allocations than its predecessor, making internal storage management a critical pre-launch concern for consumers and developers alike.
What Happened
Nintendo Life has published a report estimating the Switch 2 file size for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at approximately 65–70GB, based on data leaked from a digital storefront listing. The figure, which appeared on Sunday, May 3, 2026, immediately ignited debate among fans and industry analysts about whether Nintendo's upcoming console can handle the storage demands of modern AAA titles without relying heavily on external SD cards or cloud streaming.
Key Facts
- The estimated file size for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Switch 2 is 65–70GB, placing it among the largest games ever planned for a Nintendo platform.
- The game is developed by MachineGames, the studio behind the Wolfenstein reboot series, and published by Bethesda Softworks, a subsidiary of Microsoft.
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is scheduled to launch on December 9, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with the Switch 2 version expected to follow in 2026.
- The original Nintendo Switch had 32GB of internal storage (base model) or 64GB (OLED model), meaning the Switch 2's internal storage will need to be at least 256GB to accommodate even a handful of such titles.
- Nintendo has not yet officially confirmed the Switch 2's internal storage capacity, but industry speculation points to 256GB or 512GB as the most likely baseline.
- The file size estimate was sourced from a digital storefront listing observed by Nintendo Life, not from an official Nintendo or Bethesda announcement.
- The Switch 2 is widely expected to support NVMe SSD storage for faster load times, which could partially offset the size penalty by enabling more efficient data compression.
Breaking It Down
The 65–70GB estimate for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is not merely a number — it is a stress test for Nintendo's entire storage strategy. To put this in perspective, the original Switch's entire internal storage (32GB) would not fit even a single copy of this game. The Nintendo Switch OLED model, with 64GB, would hold barely one copy, leaving no room for saves, updates, or other software. This single data point forces a reckoning: Nintendo must deliver a console with at least 256GB of internal storage, and likely more, to remain competitive in the AAA gaming ecosystem.
The Switch 2's estimated 65–70GB requirement for one game is more than double the total internal storage of the original Switch base model.
This storage demand is not an outlier. Modern AAA titles on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X routinely exceed 100GB; Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War hit 200GB with updates. Nintendo has historically avoided such gargantuan file sizes through art style and compression, but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle — a photorealistic first-person action-adventure game built on MachineGames' id Tech engine — represents a deliberate move into the visual fidelity arms race. The id Tech engine is known for high-resolution textures and complex geometry, exactly the kind of assets that bloat file sizes. For Nintendo, licensing a game of this scale signals that Microsoft and Bethesda believe the Switch 2 can handle current-generation production values, but the storage cost is unavoidable.
The timing of the leak is also notable. The Switch 2 has not been formally announced, yet digital storefront listings are already populating. This suggests that Nintendo's developer kit distribution and digital storefront backend are operational, with third-party partners actively preparing launch titles. The 65–70GB figure is likely a compressed or initial build size; day-one patches and downloadable content could push the final install to 80GB or more. Consumers should expect that a Switch 2 with 256GB of storage will hold only three to four games of this caliber before requiring expansion.
What Comes Next
- Nintendo's official Switch 2 reveal — expected within the next 3–6 months — will confirm internal storage specifications. If the console launches with less than 256GB, expect immediate backlash and a surge in third-party SD card sales.
- Bethesda and MachineGames will likely release an official file size for the Switch 2 version in mid-2026, as part of a broader marketing push ahead of the game's port launch.
- Digital Foundry and other technical analysis outlets are expected to analyze the Switch 2 port's compression techniques versus the Xbox Series X version, which could reveal how Nintendo and Bethesda optimize storage.
- Nintendo's own first-party titles — such as the next Zelda or Mario — will set the baseline for expected file sizes on Switch 2. If Nintendo's own games stay under 30GB, the storage pressure will fall disproportionately on third-party ports.
The Bigger Picture
This story connects directly to two broader trends in the technology sector. First, Console Storage Arms Race — the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X already ship with 825GB and 1TB SSDs respectively, yet players routinely run out of space. Nintendo's entry into this territory with a handheld form factor forces a tradeoff: internal storage density versus physical size and cost. A larger SSD adds weight, heat, and price, all of which are amplified in a portable device.
Second, Cloud Gaming as a Storage Escape Valve — Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are all investing in cloud streaming. If Switch 2 supports Xbox Cloud Gaming (a plausible outcome given Microsoft's partnership with Nintendo), players could stream Indiana Jones and the Great Circle without downloading its massive file. However, cloud gaming requires persistent high-speed internet, which limits its appeal to a subset of the user base. The 65–70GB estimate makes cloud streaming not a luxury but a potential necessity for players who want to own more than a handful of AAA titles simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
- [Storage Reality Check]: The 65–70GB estimate for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle means the Switch 2 must launch with at least 256GB of internal storage to remain viable for AAA gaming.
- [Third-Party Signal]: Bethesda and Microsoft committing a high-fidelity, large-file game to Switch 2 confirms that the platform is being positioned to compete with current-gen consoles, not just the original Switch.
- [Pre-Launch Pressure]: The leak of this file size before Nintendo's official Switch 2 announcement forces the company to address storage specifications publicly, potentially accelerating its reveal timeline.
- [Consumer Planning]: Players should budget for an external storage solution — likely a microSD Express card — as a near-mandatory accessory for the Switch 2, given the file sizes of modern AAA titles.
