Lego City Undercover Download Size Revealed for Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch eShop listing for Lego City Undercover revealed the game’s digital download size as 7.1 GB. This information surfaced in late March 2017, ahead of the game’s multiplatform release, providing prospective buyers with a key detail for managing the new console’s limited internal storage. For players looking to conserve space, a physical cartridge version of the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment title was also available for preorder.

A Wii U Gem Goes Multiplatform

Lego City Undercover first launched in 2013 as an exclusive title for the Nintendo Wii U. Set in the sprawling, brick-built metropolis of Lego City, the game was an open-world adventure that put players in the shoes of undercover cop Chase McCain. The story followed McCain as he returned to the city to hunt down the recently escaped master criminal, Rex Fury. The gameplay involved solving puzzles, platforming, and engaging in combat, all while utilizing a variety of disguises that granted McCain unique abilities.

The original release was well-regarded for its charming humor, expansive world filled with collectibles, and clever writing that parodied classic cop films and television shows. However, its exclusivity on the Wii U meant that its audience was limited by the console’s sales. The 2017 port aimed to bring this experience to a much wider player base by releasing it on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, alongside the newly launched Nintendo Switch. This move was part of a larger trend of publishers re-releasing acclaimed titles from the Wii U onto more commercially successful platforms.

New Features and Technical Considerations

The updated version of Lego City Undercover was more than a simple port. The most significant addition was a two-player, local split-screen cooperative mode. This allowed a second player to join the fun for the first time, exploring Lego City and completing missions together. The original Wii U title was a strictly single-player affair, so the inclusion of co-op was a major enhancement that changed how the game could be experienced, especially for families.

The port also required adapting features that were unique to the Wii U GamePad. In the original, the GamePad’s screen served as a minimap, a scanner for finding hidden objects, and a video communicator for receiving mission briefings. These functions had to be integrated into the main screen experience for the new platforms. The game was scheduled for release in North America on April 4, 2017.

The Nintendo Switch Storage Dilemma

The 7.1 GB file size for Lego City Undercover was a practical example of the storage challenges facing early adopters of the Nintendo Switch. The console shipped with 32 GB of internal memory, with the operating system reserving a significant portion, leaving users with approximately 25.9 GB of usable space. A single 7.1 GB download would occupy more than a quarter of this limited capacity.

For players planning to purchase multiple games from the eShop, this reality made storage management a primary concern. Another major launch title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, required 13.4 GB, consuming over half the available space on its own. The combined size of just these two titles would exceed the internal storage. Consequently, the decision between buying a physical game cartridge or a digital download became a crucial one. For those committed to a digital library, investing in a high-capacity microSD card was not just a recommendation but a near necessity to avoid constantly deleting and re-downloading games.