Switch 2 Will Likely Support Nvidia 4K AI Upscaling, Ray Tracing

An NVIDIA employee looks to have confirmed that the Tegra239 chip will be powering the Switch 2.

Per r/GamingLeaksAndRumors, that would mean the Switch 2 has the following specs:

• T239 SoC
• 8-core CPU – likely to be ARM Cortex A78C/A78
• Ampere-based GPU that may incorporate some Lovelace features (source)
• The 2nd generation Nintendo Switch graphics API contains references [to] DLSS 2.2 and ray tracing support (source)

The Important Details

The most interesting tidbits here are the mention of DLSS 2.2 and ray tracing. Ray tracing is a very expensive technology that requires powerful hardware. Frankly, the results have never been that impressive on the Xbox Series S (which is certainly on or above the power level of the Switch 2) so I doubt it’s anything to get excited about.

DLSS 2.2 upscaling, however, could be useful for those of you who game on a 4K TV (I don’t).

Furthermore, a new patent which was recently published corroborates the use of Nvidia’s 4K AI upscaling technology for the Switch 2. This would allow for smaller file sizes (to fit on a Switch 2 cartridge) while employing DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) to increase the resolution of a game from, for example, 1080p to 4K.

The example given is that a game with native 4K textures might need a 60GB download, but a 1080 native version might only need 20GB (which would allow it to fit on a 32GB Switch Cart, the current max size Nintendo produces for Switch 1). The idea being to do a 4X upscale on the device in realtime.

What Does This All Mean?

Laura Kate Dale speculates Nintendo wants to make sure third-party porting is easy on the Switch 2. I concur. Therefore, you should (hopefully) be seeing a lot of titles come to PS5, Series X, and Switch 2…at least for the first couple years. And, of course, with compromises.

However, The Verge’s Tom Warren has stated the console won’t be as powerful as the PS4 Pro as previously believed by many.

Frankly, it’s hard to compare since the Switch 2 will be using modern mobile technology that the PS4 Pro lacks. The PS4 Pro didn’t have Nvidia DLSS or Ray Tracing, and was bottlenecked by a rather weak CPU (but it had a strong GPU).

In real life use, the Switch 2 could certainly seem like it’s more powerful than a PS4 Pro even if it’s not. And what’s more important—technical specs or the final result on screen?

For everything on Switch 2, click here.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below.