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

During Nintendo’s recent announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, they kept quiet about the specifics of the chip powering their latest console. Fortunately, Nvidia, which provides the custom chip, shed some light on it through a blog update.

At a developer forum, Tetsuya Sasaki, the technical director for the Switch 2, emphasized that Nintendo prioritizes the value they deliver to gamers over delving into hardware specifications. True to form, Nvidia has taken a similar approach, choosing to keep details like core counts and speeds under wraps. However, they did reveal an impressive enhancement—the new chip offers graphics performance that is ten times greater than that of the original Nintendo Switch.

This new chip boasts RT cores, which enable sophisticated ray tracing, lighting, and reflection effects. Meanwhile, the tensor cores are engineered to support DLSS upscaling, likely pushing the console to attain 4K resolution when docked and boosting frame rates up to 120 fps in handheld mode.

Nvidia also confirmed that these tensor cores facilitate AI-driven features like face tracking and background removal. These capabilities are showcased in the innovative GameChat social feature and games optimized for the new console, such as Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. It’s still a mystery whether this technology shares elements with Nvidia Broadcast, used in PC gaming.

Another exciting feature is the new variable refresh rate (VRR) display, backed by G-Sync in handheld mode, aimed at eliminating screen tearing – a boon for gamers seeking smoother visuals.

Reflecting on its predecessor, the original Nintendo Switch was powered by Nvidia’s custom Tegra X1 chip. Despite being slightly dated even at launch, the Switch has remained remarkably relevant, running new games even eight years on.

As the release date of June 5 approaches, priced at $449.99, the gaming community is eager to see how developers will tap into this potent new chip to enhance gaming experiences across the board.