The Nintendo Switch 2 continues to leak in more and more capacities and now it seems the latest rumor is pointing to DLSS-style upscaling for the graphics resolution output. If this is true, it would probably be a huge upgrade for the console. With the original Nintendo Switch, Nintendo designed the console to handle all graphics resolution output on the console’s internal hardware.
Realistically, this hasn’t been a huge issue for most people who love the Nintendo Switch. At the end of the day, Nintendo’s quality games have overshadowed the lack of higher-resolution graphics. Still, better graphics output is something many have hoped for with the Nintendo Switch successor. Rumors have already pointed to the console having graphics output that lies somewhere between the Steam Deck and PS4 Pro. This would be a significant improvement to be sure.
It’s also been rumored for a while that DLSS-style upscaling would help Nintendo reach this goal. However, there was little evidence of this being the case. At least until now.
A newly published patent suggests the Nintendo Switch 2 will support graphics upscaling
In the world of gaming, the capability to deliver high-end graphics is a must-have trait for many gamers. Consoles have always been more limited than gaming PCs in this regard. However, the improvements made to graphics upscaling technology have helped to close this gap a little more. NVIDIA’s DLSS technology has been a big help in this area.
According to a new patent that Nintendo recently published, the Switch 2 will very likely support NVIDIA DLSS-style graphics upscaling. The patent was spotted by Laura Kate Dale on Bluesky (via Wccftech), and notes that the patent seems to verify previous claims about this tech being used.
The patent, of course, doesn’t mention anything about what kind of resolution output consumers can expect. With AI upscaling though the graphics could appear closer to 4K without actually being native 4K. Even if they’re not upscaled to 4K, they should be markedly better than the 720P of the original Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo may be using DLSS-style upscaling to keep file sizes low
One of the main functions of DLSS is to upscale the graphics resolution output. But as Wccftech points out, it’s also used to help keep file sizes down. This could be another reason Nintendo is using this kind of technology inside the upcoming console. If it is in fact using it in the first place. The original Nintendo Switch only came with 32GB of storage. Any more space needed for installing downloadable games had to be put on a microSD card.
Nintendo improved this a little with the Switch OLED, which bumped storage up to 64GB. DLSS-style upscaling could help keep file sizes down while still providing an overall better-looking game. That being said, a recent leak of the Nintendo Switch 2’s motherboard hints at a possible bump to 256GB of storage. So even with the upscaling onboard, users could still have more space for games anyway. Nintendo is expected to launch the Switch 2 sometime in late Spring, although a recent rumor suggests it may arrive on March 28.
