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

When you peek at Nintendo’s official specs for the Switch 2, you’ll spot a rather cryptic "Custom processor made by NVIDIA" describing both the CPU and GPU. Recently, however, some of the creators behind the Switch 2 shed a bit more light on its hardware during an engaging developer roundtable. This deeper dive hinted at the innovative tools game developers will have at their disposal.

The session featured insights from producer Kouichi Kawamoto, technical director Tetsuya Sasaki, and director Takuhiro Dohta. They took turns addressing questions, with interpretation provided by Raymond Elliget. Though Nintendo tends to play its cards close to the chest when it comes to hardware specs, Sasaki made it clear: "Our main focus is on the value we bring to our consumers." Even so, they did share a few nuggets that offered a sneak peek into what we can expect.

Curious about the tech behind the curtain? We gleaned a detailed look at Nintendo’s strategy and uncovered tidbits about the hardware that you won’t find on a standard spec sheet.

DLSS and Hardware Ray Tracing Are a Go

Sticking with Nvidia gives Nintendo a valuable edge with DLSS technology. Dohta confirmed that this DLSS upscaling feature is available to developers, explaining it in response to a question from Shannon Liao at Inverse.

"When the hardware outputs to a TV, it can reach a max resolution of 4K. It’s up to the software developers whether they want to use native resolution or opt for upscaling," he explained. "This flexibility gives developers plenty of options."

The chip also supports hardware ray tracing, providing yet another versatile tool for game creators to leverage.

Battery Life and System Processing

According to Nintendo’s official numbers, the Switch 2’s battery packs a punch with a 5220 mAh capacity, claiming a lifespan of anywhere from 2 to 6.5 hours per charge depending on usage. The developers were coy about pinpointing this further, with Sasaki noting that battery life heavily varies with the specific game and usage conditions.

Dohta added that features like GameChat introduce layers of complexity unseen in the original model. This means the range in battery life is broader, making it even trickier to compare the Switch 2 directly to its predecessor.

Backwards Compatibility Through Emulation

Questions about backwards compatibility led developers to reveal that classic titles from the GameCube era and original Switch games would run via emulation, akin to Xbox’s approach.

"It’s a bit complex, but think of it as software-based emulation," explained Sasaki, pointing out it’s not just about the hardware being used to emulate.

Enhanced Bluetooth Connectivity

The Switch 2’s Joy-Cons link up via Bluetooth 3.0. Inquiries about the original system’s connectivity issues brought a straightforward response from Sasaki:

"Yes, it has improved."

He elaborated that the system’s larger antennas and increased number of them should make a big difference, smoothing out connection hiccups significantly.

Choosing LCD Over OLED

Sporting a 7.9-inch LCD display supporting HDR, the Switch 2 bucks the trend of its predecessor’s premium OLED screen. Some wondered if this was a step down, but Sasaki assured there have been substantial advancements in LCD tech.

Kawamoto highlighted that while the original Switch’s OLED didn’t support HDR, the new LCD does.

Dual USB Type-C Ports

During the roundtable, CNET’s Scott Stein inquired whether the top USB-C port could handle external displays like Xreal glasses. Kawamoto clarified that only the bottom port supports video output.

"It’s tricky to comment on non-official Nintendo products," he replied.

The top USB-C proves multifunctional, working with the new Nintendo Switch 2 camera and allowing charging in tabletop mode.