Switch 2 will support DLSS upgrades and hardware ray tracing, Nintendo confirms

Although Nintendo does not intend to sell Switch 2 as High-performance hardwarethe upcoming console still has a lot of new tricks, including Nvidia-powered DLSS upgrades and hardware ray tracing.

Nintendo confirmed Switch 2 Direct’s support for DLSS upgrades in the Q&A session after Switch 2. Takuhiro Dohta of Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development Department said the Switch 2 will use NVIDIA's high-scale technology and “we will continue to use it when developing the game.”

“When hardware is involved, (Switch 2) is able to output a TV at a maximum of 4K,” Dohta explains. “Whether the software developers use it as a local resolution, or as a smaller RES, then use the premium for something software developers can choose from. I think it opens a lot of options for software developers.”

In the same session, DOHTA confirmed that the Switch 2's GPU will support Ray Tracing, which “provides another option for software developers.”

More details about the technology upgrade are already available NVIDIA Blog Articlesthis provides in-depth diving for the Switch 2's custom NVIDIA processor. The console's GPU has a dedicated RT core to power real-time ray tracing, while the Tensor core is used for AI-powered enhancements such as DLSS upgrades. Switch 2's AI processing can also use the console's new video chat capabilities, and feature AI-powered features including face tracking and automatic background deletion.

Overall, NVIDIA says the graphics performance of the Switch 2 is 10 times that of the Nintendo Switch, allowing developers to use more work when developing games for the new console. Nintendo also announced new console support in Switch 2 Direct HDR, 4K and 120fps.

Nintendo Switch 2 will be launched on June 5 $450 with Bookings starting from April 9.