Nvidia Confirms AI and Ray Tracing for Nintendo Switch 2 Chipset, Details Under Wraps

Yesterday, Nintendo stepped into the spotlight with the much-anticipated reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, but there was a noticeable hush from their hardware team concerning the powerhouse under the hood. However, Nvidia, which is behind the custom chip for the Switch 2, shed a bit of light on the situation through a recent blog update.

During a developer roundtable, Tetsuya Sasaki, the Switch 2’s technical director, commented, “Nintendo tends not to disclose much about hardware specs. Instead, we focus on the unique value we bring to our users.”

Following Nintendo’s cue, Nvidia has also chosen to keep mum about specifics like core counts and speeds. Still, they tantalizingly promise that the new chip can deliver graphics performance that’s ten times better than what the original Nintendo Switch offered.

The new chip equips Nvidia’s RT cores, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing, lighting, and reflections. Additionally, tensor cores are crucial for DLSS upscaling, making it possible to achieve resolutions up to 4K when docked, while aiming for up to 120 frames per second during handheld gameplay.

Nvidia also highlighted that these tensor cores offer advanced features like face tracking and AI-enabled background removal. Demonstrations of this tech were seen with the GameChat feature and in hands-on sessions with Switch 2 titles, including Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. It’s still uncertain if this mirrors the tech used in Nvidia Broadcast for PC.

Furthermore, Nvidia confirmed that the handheld mode of the Switch 2 boasts a variable refresh rate (VRR) display powered by G-Sync, ensuring smooth gameplay free from screen tearing.

Drawing on experience, Nvidia also powered the original Nintendo Switch using a modified Tegra X1 chip. Despite its age, this chip has impressively remained relevant, supporting new games for eight years.

Come June 5, when the Switch 2 hits the shelves for $449.99, we’ll get to see just how much developers can harness from this new powerhouse chip. Exciting times lie ahead for Nintendo aficionados!