Nintendo Switch 2 developers confirm DLSS, hardware ray tracing, and more
Details trickled out at a roundtable with the Switch 2's creators.
On Nintendo's specs page, the CPU and GPU in the Nintendo Switch 2 are boiled down to a vague "Custom processor made by NVIDIA." At a developer roundtable with some of the Switch 2's creators, we learned more about what to expect from the Switch 2's hardware, and the tools it can deliver to game developers.
Producer Kouichi Kawamoto, technical director Tetsuya Sasaki, and director Takuhiro Dohta took questions from the press (questions and answers through interpreter Raymond Elliget) about the new Switch.
"Nintendo doesn't share too much on the hardware spec," Sasaki said. "What we really like to focus on is the value we can provide to our consumers." Still, the group did drop some knowledge that can let us know what to expect.
We learned a bit about the tech Nintendo is leaning on, as well as some details about the hardware that didn't make the spec sheet. Here's what we found out:
DLSS and hardware ray tracing are confirmed
By sticking with Nvidia, Nintendo will be able to access its DLSS technologies.
Dohta confirmed that Nintendo uses DLSS upscaling technology and is offering it as a tool to others in response to a question from Inverse's Shannon Liao.
"When it comes to the hardware, it is able to output to a TV at a max of 4K and whether the software developer is going to use that as a native resolution or get it to a smaller rate and an upscale is something that the software developer can choose," he said. "And that's, I think it opens up a lot of options for the software developer to choose from."
As for hardware ray tracing, Dohta confirmed the chip can support it, and suggested this is yet another tool for software developers to choose to implement.
Battery life and system processing
Nintendo's official spec sheet claims that the Switch 2's 5220 mAh battery lasts between 2 and 6.5 hours on a charge as a "rough estimate." The developers of the system were reluctant to put a more specific number on it. Sasaki pointed out that it depends heavily on the game you're playing and the conditions you use the system in.
Dohta added that with features like GameChat, there are far more features on the system side that are more complex than the original system, and that the variability of battery life is even… wider than it was in Nintendo Switch, making it difficult to even compare the successor to the original system in terms of battery life.
Original Switch software is emulated
When asked about Nintendo's solution for backwards compatibility with Switch games and the GameCube classics available on the system, the developers confirmed these games are actually emulated. (This is similar to what Xbox does with backwards compatibility).
"It's a bit of a difficult response, but taking into consideration it's not just the hardware that's being used to emulate, I guess you could categorize it as software-based," Sasaki said of the solution.
Improved Bluetooth
The new Joy-Cons connect to the Switch 2 with Bluetooth 3.0. When asked about struggles players had with connecting multiple Bluetooth devices, including controllers and headsets, to the original Switch, Sasaki kept it simple:
"Yes, it has improved," he said.
He added that the size of the system and its bigger antennas should have "a big impact" and enable better connections. Additionally, the number of antennas has increased and "a lot" of further adjustments have been made.
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LCD over OLED
The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch LCD display with support for HDR. A premium version of the original Switch had an OLED screen, which one member of the press said could be perceived as a downgrade.
Sasaki said that during development, many advancements had been made in LCD technology.
Kawamoto added that the OLED version of the original Switch didn't have HDR support, which this new LCD screen does.
The two USB Type-C ports
When asked by CNET's Scott Stein if the top USB-C port on the Switch 2 could be used for external displays like Xreal glasses, Kawamoto said that only the bottom port on the system supports video out.
"So in terms of supporting the glasses, it's not an official Nintendo product, so it's hard to say, "Kawamoto said.
The top USB-C port has been demoed with the new Nintendo Switch 2 camera and can also charge the system in tabletop mode.
Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and BlueSky @andrewfreedman.net. You can send him tips on Signal: andrewfreedman.01
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TheyStoppedit Lol, they have so far advertised raytracing, 4K60, and 1440p120. Lol. You're not getting either of those things.... EVER..... unless it's an indie 2D sidescroller or a Switch 1 game.... like SMBW...... and even that's a maybe. This is equivalent to when PS5 used to have 8K labeled on the box.Reply
Most games on Switch 2..... that actually matter...... will be 1080/720p @ 60 or 30, and will need lots of help from DLSS. The chip in this thing is basically a nerfed 3050 mobile. Keep expectations very low.
Don't get wrong, I mean, I'm just as excited as everyone else, we all love Mario, Zelda, blah blah blah. But we need to be realistic and honest about this -
cknobman Get ready for your games running with "ray tracing" using DLSS (likely in performance or lower mode) and frame gen just to get a "playable" 40-50fps.Reply
That upscaled 360/420p image with a side of extra latency (due to frame gen) is going to make for one awesome playing experience! -
Geef I was really considering getting a Switch 2 but when I heard about the price of games I reconsidered.Reply
Too bad they don't have a discount for people who started out with 8-bit Nintendo as a kid. :unsure: -
beyondlogic ReplyTheyStoppedit said:Lol, they have so far advertised raytracing, 4K60, and 1440p120. Lol. You're not getting either of those things.... EVER..... unless it's an indie 2D sidescroller or a Switch 1 game.... like SMBW...... and even that's a maybe. This is equivalent to when PS5 used to have 8K labeled on the box.
Most games on Switch 2..... that actually matter...... will be 1080/720p @ 60 or 30, and will need lots of help from DLSS. The chip in this thing is basically a nerfed 3050 mobile. Keep expectations very low.
Don't get wrong, I mean, I'm just as excited as everyone else, we all love Mario, Zelda, blah blah blah. But we need to be realistic and honest about this
they didn't say native 2k 120 and 4k at 60. these units will have dlls and ps4 pro could do 1080p and 1440p just fine and upscale to 4k. most games that i had ran at 1080p fine and had option of upscaling on the pro.
its a custom processor which you cant really compare it to anything really.
from what I can tell its either 1536 at 128 bit bus or 2048. chip while that is bang on 3050. the os will be quite light so I can see some improvements on performance.
we don't know the full bandwidth.
personally it should be performance a improved ps4 pro because ARM Cortex-A78C would beat the snot out of the ps4 pros jaguar cores.
realistically its one of the most powerful handhelds your going to get that wont play like garbage.
the price of games going 80 usd is a bit jarring -
bbr1979 Reply
They are not except one game. 70 is usual price for aaa-gaming.Mc_Whitty said:Value my butt. What value are they talking about when games cost $80-90. -
Heiro78 Reply
I'm willing to pay 80 for a game that is free of microtransactions. Willing but I don't like it. I feel that TOTK was worth $70. But any game over 50 and it has microtransactions for progression, it aint happening. I want to trust Nintendo, but if Mario Kart World will have alternate monetization after the $80 price point then they can stuff itMc_Whitty said:Value my butt. What value are they talking about when games cost $80-90. -
Heiro78 Reply
I like and agree with most of what you're saying except for one of the most powerful handhelds. I liken it to the Steam Deck as a PC portable and you're sure to see Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring comparisons between the two portable devices. I don't even know if the Switch 2 will have those two games running much better than the Steam Deck. It is Nvidia so there's likely a chance it will but then there's the potential for a Steam Deck 2 next year.beyondlogic said:they didn't say native 2k 120 and 4k at 60. these units will have dlls and ps4 pro could do 1080p and 1440p just fine and upscale to 4k. most games that i had ran at 1080p fine and had option of upscaling on the pro.
its a custom processor which you cant really compare it to anything really.
from what I can tell its either 1536 at 128 bit bus or 2048. chip while that is bang on 3050. the os will be quite light so I can see some improvements on performance.
we don't know the full bandwidth.
personally it should be performance a improved ps4 pro because ARM Cortex-A78C would beat the snot out of the ps4 pros jaguar cores.
realistically its one of the most powerful handhelds your going to get that wont play like ass.
the price of games going 80 usd is a bit jarring
It's an uphill battle for Nintendo and I wish them success. Their quirky kid friendly designs are what I enjoy. Seeing them get out of the hardware game and possibly be controlled by another company would be a sad day. But business gotta be business -
Heiro78 The only incorrect thing here is this part. "its 4k not 1080 p". It's not 4k, you said it earlier that it's upsampled. So its just that upsampled 4k. I stand on principal to not use DLSS and the like but I also concede that it's an impressive technology and games generally don't look worse, potential latency issues aside.Reply