Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Supports NVIDIA DLSS and Ray Tracing Technology

Nintendo Switch 2: Speculation on Upcoming Hardware Features

Since early 2023, speculation surrounding the next-generation Nintendo Switch 2 has included a potential integration of NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology along with ray tracing capabilities. These expectations were primarily based on the belief that the console would utilize the NVIDIA Tegra 239 system-on-chip (SoC).

Recent Developments and Clarifications

However, during yesterday’s Direct presentation, Nintendo did not mention these features, leaving many to question the credibility of the rumors. Analysis from Digital Foundry following the showcase failed to show any tangible evidence of DLSS technology in the released gameplay footage, undermining the assumptions that had seemed almost confirmed.

Nintendo’s Official Position on DLSS and Ray Tracing

In an intriguing turn of events, IGN has managed to get Nintendo officials to comment officially on the matter. Takuhiro Dohta, the Senior Director of Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development Division, clarified:

We use DLSS upscaling technology and that’s something that we need to use as we develop games. And when it comes to the hardware, it is able to output to a TV at a max of 4K. Whether the software developer is going to use that as a native resolution or get it to upscale is something that the software developer can choose. I think it opens up a lot of options for the software developer to choose from.

Insights on Ray Tracing Capabilities

Dohta also confirmed that the GPU indeed supports ray tracing technology, stating:

Yes, the GPU does support ray tracing. As with DLSS, I believe this provides yet another option for the software developers to use and a tool for them.

Further Inquiries into Hardware Specifications

While IGN sought additional insights regarding the GPU specifications of the Nintendo Switch 2, Tetsuya Sasaki, Manager at Nintendo’s Technology Development Division, remained vague on the finer technical details. Nonetheless, he hinted that more information from NVIDIA is anticipated in the near future.

Expected Performance Specifications

From various leaks and rumors, it is projected that the Switch 2’s GPU will be based on NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, boasting 2048 CUDA Cores. The console is reported to contain an 8-core CPU featuring 12 ARM Cortex-A78AE cores. Notably, earlier this year, leaks indicated that the Switch 2 can achieve approximately 1.71 TFLOPS in handheld mode with a GPU clock operating at 561 MHz, while docked mode, supported by a cooling fan, could boost power to 3.1 TFLOPS with the GPU clocked at 1000 MHz.

As the gaming community anticipates more definitive announcements, these developments hint at an exciting future for Nintendo’s next console.

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