Nvidia Confirms AI and Ray Tracing Features for Nintendo Switch 2 Chip, Keeps Detailed Specs Under Wraps

Nintendo’s recent showcase of the Nintendo Switch 2 left fans excited, but the specifics about what drives this new system remained mostly in the shadows. While Nintendo has been tight-lipped about what’s under the hood, Nvidia, the company behind the custom chip, shed some light on a few details through a blog post.

At a developer roundtable, Tetsuya Sasaki, the technical director for the Switch 2, emphasized, "Nintendo’s strategy isn’t to dive deep into hardware specifications. Instead, we’re all about delivering value to our gamers."

Following suit, Nvidia has kept the finer points like core counts and clock speeds close to their chest. However, they boast that this new chip delivers a tenfold increase in graphics capability compared to the original Switch. That’s a substantial leap forward.

The new chip is equipped with Nvidia’s RT cores, which pave the way for advanced graphics features like hardware ray tracing, improved lighting, and reflections. Meanwhile, its tensor cores support DLSS upscaling, likely helping the system reach resolutions up to 4K when connected to a dock, and allowing for smooth performance at up to 120 frames per second in handheld mode.

Nvidia also shared that these tensor cores facilitate AI-based features like face tracking and background removal. These were demonstrated through the new social GameChat function and certain Switch 2 games we had the chance to try out, including Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. It’s uncertain whether this technology aligns with Nvidia’s Broadcast capabilities for PC.

On top of that, Nvidia confirmed the inclusion of a new variable refresh rate display feature, powered by G-Sync for handheld play, aiming to eliminate screen tearing issues.

The original Nintendo Switch also relied on Nvidia technology, using a custom version of the Tegra X1 chip. Despite its age, this chip has continued to support an impressive array of games for eight years.

As we approach the Switch 2’s release date on June 5, priced at $449.99, it will be intriguing to see how developers leverage this new powerhouse chip to enhance gaming experiences.