The speculation can be laid to rest: the Switch 2 is confirmed to support ray tracing and DLSS, thanks to its Nvidia GPU, aligning it with the advanced features found in high-end PC graphics cards.
“The Nintendo Switch 2, revealed on April 2, elevates performance to unprecedented levels, equipped with a customized NVIDIA processor that includes an NVIDIA GPU with dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores for breathtaking visuals and AI-enhanced features,” Nvidia states in its announcement.
The highlight among these enhancements is undoubtedly Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which encompasses Nvidia’s suite of AI-driven upscaling technologies. To summarize briefly, DLSS allows the hardware to render the game at a lower resolution, which is then scaled up to a higher resolution, maintaining visual fidelity. This means players can experience improvements in performance typically associated with lower resolutions, while the upscaling often makes the visuals comparable to native 4K quality.
Numerous AI upscaling methods exist for various hardware platforms—console gamers may be familiar with the PSSR technique from PS5 Pro—but DLSS frequently yields some of the most impressive outcomes. Having had a DLSS-capable graphics card in my gaming rig for years, I find myself activating this feature almost immediately upon launching any new title. After enduring blurry visuals and subpar frame rates on the original Switch for so long, it’s thrilling to have confirmation that DLSS will be part of the Switch experience.
Ultimately, the implementation of DLSS will be left to individual game developers, who will establish resolution settings and performance benchmarks. However, with both DLSS and the enhanced graphics capabilities of the new Switch 2’s processor, Nvidia claims that the console can achieve “10 times the graphics performance” of its predecessor. While the veracity of that claim is yet to be tested, it’s encouraging to finally see a modern visual upgrade on Nintendo’s hardware after the limitations imposed by obsolete mobile technology that has affected numerous Switch developers.
For more insights, explore all the latest news from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, or if you’re ready to purchase, check out our comprehensive guide to Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders.