Summary
On March 13, Nintendo filed a patent that confirmed theNintendo Switch 2will use upscaling technology while in handheld mode to improve performance in compatible games. TheNintendo Switch 2patent listed examples of how the upscaling technology would work and included examples of the original and upscaled resolutions that would be utilized.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to the original Switch console, and discussions over its power and capabilities have made it the worst-kept secret in Nintendo’s recent history before its January reveal. While it has a bigger screen than the Switch and new Joy-Con controllers, the Switch 2 will also be backward compatible with most physical and digital Switch games, barring a few exceptions. Although the original Switch will still seesupport from Nintendo via upcoming titles likeMetroid Prime 4: BeyondandXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, it remains to be seen if the performance of those games will be improved on the Switch 2.
Although some FCC filings haveconfirmed the wireless capabilities of the Switch 2 system, a new patent indicates there’s more to Nintendo’s upcoming console.First spotted by Mike Odyssey on Twitter, Nintendo filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on March 13 that shared examples of how the Nintendo Switch 2 could use AI-based upscaling technology to render games at a lower resolution to a higher one in Handheld Mode.
New Nintendo Switch 2 Patent Shows AI-Based Upscaling In Handheld Mode
The patent listed a 540p image as an example of how the AI upscaler could be used. Like Nvidia DLSS or AMD FSR, the Switch 2’s AI upscaling would run the rendered image through a neural network and reorganize it. The result of Nintendo’s example image would be output at 1080p, double the resolution of the original render, with higher frame rates than a full render.
However, the patent did not state the impact upscaling would have on battery life or if higher resolutions could be used with the Switch 2 in Docked Mode. What Switch 2 games will support upscaling remains to be seen. The AI-upscaling patent is the latest in a string of Nintendo patents, with some includingsupport for proximity-based voice chatin compatible games and applications.
The Switch 2’s price, release date, and features will be revealed during the April 2 Nintendo Direct broadcast. Althoughquestions about the Switch 2’s stock remain unanswered, only time will tell how Nintendo’s upcoming console will perform compared to other systems.
