Switch 2 has '10x the graphics performance' of the Nintendo Switch

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"With 1,000 engineer-years of effort across every element - from system and chip design to a custom GPU, application programming interfaces (APIs), and world-class development tools - the Nintendo Switch 2 brings major upgrades," NVIDIA's Muni Anda writes in a new blog post about the new console.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 features a custom NVIDIA GPU that includes RT Cores and Tensor Cores, as seen in its GeForce RTX range. The original Nintendo Switch hardware was based on older NVIDIA architecture from before the RT and AI era of gaming, so the Switch 2 will benefit significantly from DLSS AI upscaling - and it is probably the main reason a game like Metroid Prime 4 can run at a smooth 4K 60 FPS when docked.

When comparing the CPU and GPU inside the Switch 2 to the original, NVIDIA says it offers "10X the graphics performance," extending to the development side with "better physics and optimized APIs for faster, more efficient game creation."

Regarding enhanced physics on the new GPU, it's safe to say that we can already see that in Nintendo's first-party Donkey Kong Bananza game from the team behind the incredible Super Mario Odyssey. In classic Nintendo fashion, the team has leveraged the capabilities of the new hardware to present a new style of vibrant 3D platformer with a fully destructible environment.

Watch the trailer below if you haven't seen the game in action - it's impressive.

Undoubtedly, the Switch 2 hardware is a massive step up, but the "10X the graphics performance" statement is also classic NVIDIA in that it probably refers to running a game on the original Switch hardware versus running it with DLSS and other hardware-specific features enabled on the Switch 2. Still, it's fantastic to see DLSS coming to a home console as the AI technology, on its own, delivers a generational-like improvement to performance via software alone.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is powered by a custom NVIDIA GPU that includes RT Cores and Tensor Cores, as seen in its GeForce RTX hardware. The Switch 2 supports DLSS upscaling, which will be key in delivering 4K visuals for the docked console and 120 FPS 1080p action in Metroid Prime 4. Also, the RT Cores will allow real-time ray-tracing on the console - a first for Nintendo. With more advanced GPU hardware and DLSS, NVIDIA notes that the Switch 2 offers "10X the graphical performance" of the original Switch.

• Read more: NVIDIA confirms the Switch 2 can handle ray-traced reflections, shadows, and 'dynamic lighting'
• Read more: Switch 2 uses NVIDIA DLSS upscaling tech, Nintendo confirms
• Read more: Switch 2 1080p display features NVIDIA G-SYNC technology for a smooth 120 Hz with VRR
• Read more: Nintendo Switch 2 game load speed increased by 4x with a new microSD card