Nintendo Patent Suggests Key Feature for Switch 2

Nintendo’s forthcoming Switch 2 could potentially integrate Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology, possibly allowing for enhanced gaming resolutions. This advancement may simplify the process for third-party developers to port their games to this new system. As the successor to the current Switch, expectations are that Nintendo will officially reveal the new console by March 2025.

Recently, Nintendo has taken steps to secure a patent for the Switch 2, which includes support for Nvidia’s DLSS, aligning with previous hints about the console’s features. The venerable Switch console is nearing its twilight years, sparking buzz among the fanbase for an anticipated 2025 announcement of the next-generation console. Although whispers of the Switch 2 have persisted for quite some time, Nintendo has confirmed its intent to unveil further information in 2025, albeit maintaining a veil of secrecy over specific details.

Speculation about the Switch successor has been rife since its early disclosure, blending facts with conjecture and making it tough to sift truth from fiction. However, a repeated narrative is the inclusion of AI upscaling in the Switch 2, notably via Nvidia’s DLSS, purportedly enhancing game resolutions. Allegedly, at Gamescom, the Switch 2 was showcased running an Unreal Engine demo for The Matrix Awakens, impressively matching the graphical output of Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, thanks to this technology.

A new Nintendo patent hints at the Switch 2 incorporating DLSS-style upscaling. Laura Kate Dale, posting on BlueSky, noted the patent describes this tech’s capacity to compress game sizes to fit onto smaller physical media, such as the cartridges compatible with the Switch, which cap at 32 GB. Games originally featuring 4K textures might require substantial download sizes, but a 1080p version would use considerably less storage, easily fitting on the cartridges, and high-resolution upscaling could be achieved as you play.

The Switch 2’s Potential for Third-Party Game Compatibility

Dale further discusses the potential implications of DLSS on the Switch 2, suggesting it could streamline the porting of third-party titles to the console. By developing games directly in 4K, she believes developers can leverage imagery to assist the system in refining lower-resolution graphics to a high standard upon being ported.

December 2024 saw a wave of alleged leaks surrounding the Switch 2, including images claiming to reveal its design. While skepticism about these leaks prompted accusations of AI manipulation, many specifics were later verified through thorough analysis. However, official confirmation from Nintendo regarding the Switch replacement remains anticipated, likely to arrive later this year.

The Nintendo Switch first debuted in 2017 as a versatile gaming system, able to transition from handheld play to a docked home console experience. Following its release, the handheld-exclusive Switch Lite launched in 2019, succeeded by an OLED model update in 2021.