A little bit more to share: When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, it was vague about the chip powering the device, only mentioning that it was a custom design from Nvidia. No technical specifications were provided – just general information like support for up to 120fps on-device, 4K at 60fps, VRR, and similar features. Fortunately, Nvidia has since shed a bit more light on the subject.
Nvidia recently posted a blog highlighting features of the hardware powering the Switch 2, going beyond what Nintendo initially shared. Among these features is support for ray tracing.
While ray tracing is also available on other consoles, it took some time for developers to start using it. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Cyberpunk 2077 were among the first titles to implement ray tracing on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. According to The Shortcut, as of January, the number of PS5 games with ray tracing support had grown to 58. However, some of those only offer ray tracing on the PS5 Pro.
While ray tracing is also available on other consoles, it took a while for developers to start actually using it. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Cyberpunk 2077 were among the first titles to implement ray tracing on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. According to The Shortcut, as of January, the number of PS5 games with ray tracing support has grown to 58. However, some of those only offer ray tracing on the PS5 Pro.
Another bragging right Nintendo can claim is DLSS support, now a mainstay for desktop gaming. AMD’s platform-agnostic alternative, FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), has recently trickled into gaming laptops, consoles, and handheld PCs. Both technologies enhance image quality while maintaining performance, but the Switch 2 is the first gaming handheld to offer Nvidia’s arguably superior DLSS. Thanks to its Tensor Cores, Nvidia claims Nintendo’s hybrid console delivers 10 times the graphical performance of the original Switch.
All of this looks great on paper, but here’s the rub: it’s ultimately up to developers to implement these technologies. We shouldn’t expect widespread adoption right away. It took time for developers to prioritize ray tracing and DLSS on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Rockstar, for example, didn’t add ray tracing to GTA V until 2022 – two years after those consoles launched. Given the Switch 2’s smaller screen and handheld focus, adoption may take even longer here.
Even with its increased resolution when docked to a TV, the Switch 2 is still heavily marketed as a handheld device. Its 8-inch, 1080p display running at 120fps is more than adequate for handheld use, so developers may not feel an urgent need to integrate DLSS or ray tracing in new releases or patches – at least not right away. Nvidia hasn’t mentioned any specific games currently in development that will showcase either technology.
The more pressing concerns around the Switch 2 are its price point and the cost of its games.
At $450 for what is still sub-console performance, many current Switch owners are taking a hard pass on the upgraded model. Nintendo’s new $70 to $80 pricing strategy for both new and remastered titles has also raised eyebrows among fans. While the Switch 2 is clearly a capable handheld, it doesn’t quite measure up to home consoles – except when it comes to price.
