Nvidia Confirms AI and Ray Tracing for Nintendo Switch 2 SoC, Details Remain Under Wraps

Nintendo made waves with the big reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 yesterday, but one detail they kept under wraps was the specifics of the chip running the show. However, Nvidia, the company crafting this custom system-on-a-chip, has shed some light via a blog post.

During a developer roundtable, Switch 2 technical director Tetsuya Sasaki commented, “Nintendo tends to keep hardware specs under the hood. Our main focus is on the unique experiences we can deliver to players.”

Much like Nintendo, Nvidia is holding back on specifics like core counts and clock speeds. Nevertheless, they boast the new chip can deliver graphics performance ten times greater than that of the original Nintendo Switch.

Equipped with Nvidia’s RT cores, the chip is capable of hardware ray tracing, advanced lighting, and realistic reflections. Alongside these, tensor cores boost the capabilities for DLSS upscaling. This technology will likely be crucial for hitting 4K graphics when docked and maintaining a smooth performance of up to 120 frames per second in handheld mode.

Additionally, Nvidia clarified that the tensor cores will facilitate AI-driven face tracking and background removal, as seen in the new social feature called GameChat. This tech was also on display in the hands-on sessions with titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. However, whether it uses the same tech as Nvidia Broadcast on PCs remains a mystery.

Moreover, the Switch 2 boasts a variable refresh rate display powered by G-Sync in handheld mode, a move that should efficiently eliminate screen tearing.

Reflecting on history, Nvidia also powered the original Nintendo Switch with a custom take on the Tegra X1 chip. Nintendo stretched the potential of that hardware significantly, with games still hitting the shelves eight years down the line from its debut.

As we edge closer to the Switch 2’s release date on June 5, priced at $449.99, only time will tell how game developers will harness the capabilities of the new chip.