Developers Confirm DLSS, Hardware Ray Tracing, and Additional Features for Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo’s official specs for the upcoming Switch 2 initially keep things vague by describing its CPU and GPU simply as a “Custom processor made by NVIDIA.” Dive deeper into the details, though, and there’s a world of exciting possibilities for game developers. In a roundtable chat with some of the minds behind the Switch 2’s design, we gained insight into how this new system aims to push the boundaries of gaming hardware.

Sitting down with developer leads like Producer Kouichi Kawamoto, Technical Director Tetsuya Sasaki, and Director Takuhiro Dohta, journalists were eager to extract every nugget of detail (all thanks to Raymond Elliget’s interpreting). While Nintendo typically remains tight-lipped about specific hardware specs, Sasaki explained, “What we prioritize is not just the hardware specs but the genuine value for our users.” Yet, they did reveal a few intriguing tidbits about what’s to come.

When it comes to tech, sticking with Nvidia grants Nintendo access to some stellar features like DLSS and ray tracing.

Dohta confirmed to Inverse’s Shannon Liao that DLSS—Nvidia’s upscaling tech—would be available on the new console as a powerful tool for game developers. As he put it, “The hardware can output in 4K to a TV. Developers can choose whether to hit their native resolutions or utilize upscaling, thus offering a plethora of options.” Ray tracing capabilities are also on the table, providing another tempting toy for developers.

The battery life of any console is a point of contention, and for the Switch 2, Nintendo states a range of 2 to 6.5 hours, which remains ambiguous. Sasaki acknowledged the variability depends significantly on gameplay and environment. Dohta chimed in, noting enhancements like GameChat contribute to the complexity and variability of battery life, making comparisons to the original Switch even trickier.

Navigating backwards compatibility, Nintendo employs software-based emulation to recapture the magic of classic Switch and GameCube games. Sasaki admitted it’s a challenging concept, similar to Xbox’s methodology, but it effectively runs on the new system hardware.

The Switch 2 also gets a connectivity upgrade, moving to Bluetooth 3.0 for Joy-Con pairing. Sasaki kept his response straightforward when addressing Bluetooth connectivity improvements, saying simply, “Yes, it has improved.” Enhanced system size, increased antennas, and further optimizations should mean stronger, more robust connections.

One choice raising eyebrows is Nintendo’s preference for a 7.9-inch LCD screen with HDR support, favoring it over the premium OLED panel seen in previous models. Sasaki shared that LCD tech has seen advancements, while Kawamoto added that HDR support, missing from the original OLED Switch, comes included with this LCD screen.

For ports, the Switch 2 includes two USB Type-C options. Answering a query from CNET’s Scott Stein, Kawamoto clarified that while the top port won’t handle video out for external displays like Xreal glasses, the bottom one does take care of video output. The top port, however, does come in handy for charging in tabletop mode and supports features like the new Nintendo Switch 2 camera.

In essence, the Nintendo Switch 2 emerges as a blend of thoughtful upgrades and strategic tech partnerships, all designed to enhance user experience while empowering developers with new creative possibilities.