Nintendo Switch 2 GPU Comparable to Xbox Series S, CPU Similar to PS4, Claims Developer

Nintendo Switch 2: Performance Insights and Specifications

Since leaks concerning the specifications of the Nintendo Switch 2 emerged, there has been considerable speculation among gaming enthusiasts and industry experts about how its performance will measure up against its competitors. The critical question revolves around whether this next-generation console will align more closely with the previous generation’s Sony PlayStation 4 or the current Microsoft Xbox Series S.

Insights from Industry Experts

In a recent discussion with Eoin O’Grady, Technical Director at Black Shamrock, a subsidiary of Virtuos, we gleaned valuable technical insights regarding the console’s capabilities. O’Grady indicated that games already optimized for 60 frames per second (FPS) on the Xbox Series S should transition smoothly to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Graphics and Processing Power Comparison

When comparing GPU performance, the Nintendo Switch 2 is slightly behind the Xbox Series S, particularly during handheld operation. However, it is essential to note that the Series S does not utilize technologies such as NVIDIA’s DLSS, which the Switch 2 supports. This factor equalizes their GPU performance overall.

In terms of CPU performance, there is a more pronounced difference. The Nintendo Switch 2’s CPU is marginally more powerful than that of the PlayStation 4, placing it closer to Sony’s previous generation. Since modern games are predominantly limited by GPU performance rather than CPU, the relevance of this distinction largely rests on individual game design and frame rate objectives. Games optimized for 60 FPS on the Series S should port effortlessly to the Switch 2, while those targeting 30 FPS and constrained by GPU limitations should similarly adapt well. However, titles that rely heavily on complex physics or advanced animations may face difficulties achieving stable frame rates and could require additional optimization during the porting process.

The Role of NVIDIA DLSS

One major performance enhancer for the Nintendo Switch 2 is the integration of NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS).We inquired about the current limited support for DLSS among games, to which O’Grady provided the following perspective:

For games like Mario Kart World and the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza, which showcase stylized visuals, DLSS may not be necessary. The development of Mario Kart, for instance, focused on the original Switch over several years, prioritizing artistic style over graphical fidelity, and thus achieving 60 FPS without DLSS. While third-party titles like Cyberpunk 2077 leverage DLSS for superior upscaling compared to the Xbox Series S and PS4 versions, many other games could also benefit from this technology but currently do not implement it. The integration is not straightforward; DLSS must work through Nintendo’s NVN2 graphics API, which can complicate the porting process. This extra requirement may discourage some developers from adding it in their initial releases.