As Nintendo had hinted at, Nvidia has now shed some light on the custom GPU that powers the Nintendo Switch 2, though the level of detail provided didn't quite satisfy the tech enthusiasts' curiosity.
In a recent blog post, Nvidia corroborated IGN's earlier report from Nintendo, revealing that the GPU supports AI upscaling through DLSS and ray tracing technologies.
Nvidia's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) harnesses AI to upscale lower-resolution images in real-time, significantly boosting both performance and visual quality in games.
Nvidia provided a bit more insight into the Switch 2's GPU, describing it as a "custom Nvidia processor featuring an Nvidia GPU with dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores for stunning visuals and AI-driven enhancements."
Nvidia emphasized the extensive effort behind the Switch 2, stating: "With 1,000 engineer-years of effort across every element—from system and chip design to a custom GPU, APIs, and world-class development tools—the Nintendo Switch 2 brings major upgrades."
These upgrades include support for up to 4K gaming in TV mode and up to 120 FPS at 1080p in handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch 2 also supports HDR and AI upscaling "to sharpen visuals and smooth gameplay."The new RT Cores enable real-time ray tracing, which delivers "lifelike lighting, reflections, and shadows for more immersive worlds," according to Nvidia.
Tensor Cores power AI-driven features like DLSS, "boosting resolution for sharper details without sacrificing image quality."
Interestingly, Nvidia mentioned that the Tensor Cores also facilitate AI-powered face tracking and background removal in video chat scenarios, "enhancing social gaming and streaming."
During the Nintendo Direct, Nintendo introduced the C button, which is used for new chat functionality that integrates an external camera and the built-in microphone of the Switch 2. Nintendo highlighted that the technology is intelligent enough to focus on the player’s voice while filtering out background noise.
And here’s Nvidia's bold claim:
"With 10x the graphics performance of the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2 delivers smoother gameplay and sharper visuals."
There's no specific detail on how this performance metric was calculated. It will likely be up to experts like Digital Foundry to analyze and verify these claims once the Switch 2 launches in June.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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Nvidia also noted that the Tensor Cores "boost AI-powered graphics while keeping power consumption efficient," and the RT Cores "enhance in-game realism with dynamic lighting and natural reflections."
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) via Nvidia G-SYNC in handheld mode "ensures ultra-smooth, tear-free gameplay."
In a hardware-focused roundtable Q&A in New York, attended by IGN, Nintendo representatives confirmed the use of DLSS in the Switch 2, but did not specify which version or whether it had been customized for the Switch 2. Similarly, Nintendo's response was vague when confirming the Switch 2’s GPU capability for ray tracing.
As for the GPU specifics, Tetsuya Sasaki, General Manager at Nintendo’s Technology Development Division, and Senior Director at its Technology Development Department, remarked that Nintendo prefers to keep hardware specifics under wraps.
"Nintendo doesn't share too much on the hardware spec," he said. "What we really like to focus on is the value that we can provide to our consumers. But I do believe that our partner Nvidia will be sharing some information."
AnswerSee ResultsIn January, a patent filed in July 2023 but published earlier this year caught the internet's attention. It described AI image upscaling technology designed to keep video game download sizes small enough to fit on a physical game cartridge while still offering up to 4K textures.For more information, check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, and what the experts have to say about the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag.
