Nintendo Switch Pro Reportedly Surfaces in NVIDIA Leak

[Uskompuf]

The recently leaked NVIDIA DLSS source code appears to contain several references to an upcoming Nintendo Switch product with files such as "nvndlss.cpp", "nvn_dlss.cpp", and "nvn_dlss_backend.h" listed which reputable leaker @kopite7kimi believes belongs to an upcoming Nintendo Switch model with a new SoC. The files are all found within a folder titled NVN2 which is likely referring to the successor of the NVN graphics API written by NVIDIA for the original Nintendo Switch.

These files allegedly contain references to an 8 nm T239 chip that looks extremely likely to be designated for the Nintendo Switch Pro based on Ampere with ray tracing support and DLSS 2.2 according to @NWPlayer123. This supports previous rumors that pointed to a Nintendo Switch Pro featuring a new NVIDIA processor with DLSS 2.0 support.



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[noel_fs]

thats good news, a nintento with competent performance and dlss not bad

 

[konga]

Recent DLSS implementations on PC have been really good, so the presence of a platform where developers can rely on every user having DLSS will surely result in even tighter and cleaner integration. I like my Switch, but one of my greatest frustrations with it is how frequently games fail to hit their frame rate and resolution targets. This is fantastic news if it means that more games will be 60fps with cleaner upscaling than what the switch currently offers.

 

[Fourstaff]

About time I think? Tegra X1 which Switch is based on used 20nm and A57, moving to 8nm process is going to yield a lot of improvement gains. Wonder how much they are going to charge for the Switch Pro.

 

[Garrus]

Recent DLSS implementations on PC have been really good, so the presence of a platform where developers can rely on every user having DLSS will surely result in even tighter and cleaner integration. I like my Switch, but one of my greatest frustrations with it is how frequently games fail to hit their frame rate and resolution targets. This is fantastic news if it means that more games will be 60fps with cleaner upscaling than what the switch currently offers.

DLSS is worse the lower resolution you are targeting. It is much more effective to bring 1440p up to 4k, than it is to bring 720p up to 1080p or 1440p. Higher base resolutions are important. I'm not that excited. I just want normal performance. Stick an RTX 3050 with 16GB in a box with 8 ARM cores for $300.

I'd take a 2000 CUDA core portable also, but with a lot less excitement. Look at the PS5. You could run the same chip at double the clock speeds in a tiny box instead. Get double the performance for the same price. Not even including the unneeded money spent on joy cons and a screen.

 

[konga]

DLSS is worse the lower resolution you are targeting. It is much more effective to bring 1440p up to 4k, than it is to bring 720p up to 1080p or 1440p. Higher base resolutions are important. I'm not that excited. I just want normal performance. Stick an RTX 3050 with 16GB in a box with 8 ARM cores for $300.

I'd take a 2000 CUDA core portable also, but with a lot less excitement. Look at the PS5. You could run the same chip at double the clock speeds in a tiny box instead. Get double the performance for the same price. Not even including the unneeded money spent on joy cons and a screen.

DLSS at 1080p isn't ideal, but what's even less ideal is Xenoblade 2 running at a bilinear filtered 540p or worse in handheld mode while still absolutely chugging at sub-30fps frame rates. I'm ready to move on from that nonsense.

I don't expect a handheld chip to blow me away, and the visuals are not going to be as crisp as if they were rendered at native resolution, but DLSS is still the best scaler you could ask for when employing dynamic resolution scaling. The actual results will vary depending on implementation, though.

 

[ratirt]

DLSS is worse the lower resolution you are targeting. It is much more effective to bring 1440p up to 4k, than it is to bring 720p up to 1080p or 1440p. Higher base resolutions are important. I'm not that excited. I just want normal performance. Stick an RTX 3050 with 16GB in a box with 8 ARM cores for $300.

I think the new switch will end up with a 1440p resolution at leas and 4k upscale. Nintendo has a locked system so NV solution is perfect for them since NV has it locked too. Well, used to have locked now after the leak who knows.

 

[Chomiq]

thats good news, a nintento with competent performance and dlss not bad

Except Nintendo last year said that Switch is mid-way through its life cycle.

 

[konga]

Except Nintendo last year said that Switch is mid-way through its life cycle.

Nintendo devices often remain in production for a few years after its successor is out.

 

[dj-electric]

I think its about damn time they use something more meaty for the Switch.
Saying that the current chipset shows its age is an understatement, it was an understatement 3 years ago.

NVIDIA has the capability to easily double both CPU and GPU horsepower on this machine at the moment while remaining at a similar TDP, at least to the V1 of the Switch

 

[ixi]

Nintendo for the love of god. Release Switch PRO which is powerful enough for 2k without scaling... Even better - 4k.

 

[aktpu]

Recent DLSS implementations on PC have been really good, so the presence of a platform where developers can rely on every user having DLSS will surely result in even tighter and cleaner integration. I like my Switch, but one of my greatest frustrations with it is how frequently games fail to hit their frame rate and resolution targets. This is fantastic news if it means that more games will be 60fps with cleaner upscaling than what the switch currently offers.

Can they actually rely on "every user" to have DLSS? If this is Switch Pro, it's probably a high end alternative to Switch and the games have to support both original Switch and the pro

 

[konga]

Can they actually rely on "every user" to have DLSS? If this is Switch Pro, it's probably a high end alternative to Switch and the games have to support both original Switch and the pro

There is nothing that indicates that this is a "switch pro," that's just a giant assumption on TPU's part. The only thing this leak says is that there is an NVN2, it uses the T239 SoC that Kopite7kimi leaked last June, and that it supports DLSS and ray tracing apparently (this is supposedly Orin, so that checks out). Anything else you may hear, such as the name of the product it's going into or its exact nature, is pure speculation. So, I'll speculate too and say that this won't be a simple upgraded version but a full switch successor.

 

[aktpu]

There is nothing that indicates that this is a "switch pro," that's just a giant assumption on TPU's part. The only thing this leak says is that there is an NVN2, it uses the T239 SoC that Kopite7kimi leaked last June, and that it supports DLSS and ray tracing apparently (this is supposedly Orin, so that checks out). Anything else you may hear, such as the name of the product it's going into or its exact nature, is pure speculation. So, I'll speculate too and say that this won't be a simple upgraded version but a full switch successor.

They assume it based on the NWPlayer123 Twitter thread, which had more context to it

 

[konga]

They assume it based on the NWPlayer123 Twitter thread, which had more context to it

Yeah, I just don't buy it. I don't think anyone other than proven nvidia leakers like kopite7kimi actually know anything, and even those only seem to know vague details about the chips and not what they're going into. All of the switch pro fervor from the last couple years has come mostly from a bunch of fakers.

edit: And "the documents are dated from 2019 so they must've meant to release this a while ago" is super flawed logic that ignores how damn long it takes to design and release a new device as complex as a game console with proprietary hardware and APIs.

 

[JimmyDoogs]

My guess is this has gotta be for the switch 2 releasing in 2024 and if we're lucky we'll get a 1080p screen with 4k features on TV. The steam deck just released with fsr and is best to play in 800p still for most games (although I have seen portal 2 at 4k 60fps so who knows where the consoles will be in due time)

 

[Nordic]

DLSS is worse the lower resolution you are targeting. It is much more effective to bring 1440p up to 4k, than it is to bring 720p up to 1080p or 1440p. Higher base resolutions are important. I'm not that excited. I just want normal performance. Stick an RTX 3050 with 16GB in a box with 8 ARM cores for $300.

I'd take a 2000 CUDA core portable also, but with a lot less excitement. Look at the PS5. You could run the same chip at double the clock speeds in a tiny box instead. Get double the performance for the same price. Not even including the unneeded money spent on joy cons and a screen.

That seems a bit generous for the price placement and form factor of a Nintendo handheld, no? I think we might be lucky to get near PS4 performance for more than $400. Nintendo usually lags a way behind the competition in terms of hardware. The current Tegra X1 wasn't exactly cutting edge when Nintendo adopted it.

 

[Mussels]

No joke, DLSS is perfect for the switch. If they render at 1080p and upscale to 4K, it's absolutely perfect for their target market

Being a closed platform and able to tweak the games - with a mere .dll file to update them - they can optimise it easily over time.

 

[progste]

I may be in the minority saying this, but I don't think that a switch successor is needed yet.
I think it's perfectly fine as a portable fun console and I like playing on mine, I don't see the value in a "next gen" version. At most a "pro" version that adds some graphics improvements and new features like they did with the "new" 3ds.

 

[SkullFox]

I may be in the minority saying this, but I don't think that a switch successor is needed yet.
I think it's perfectly fine as a portable fun console and I like playing on mine, I don't see the value in a "next gen" version. At most a "pro" version that adds some graphics improvements and new features like they did with the "new" 3ds.

Well... if you want to compete with proper consoles you must have a better system. playing the switch on a 60 inch 4k tv is horrible.
If what they want is to compete with mobile gaming than its fine like it is.... but so is my phone....

 

[progste]

Well... if you want to compete with proper consoles you must have a better system. playing the switch on a 60 inch 4k tv is horrible.
If what they want is to compete with mobile gaming than its fine like it is.... but so is my phone....

Nah, phones suck for gaming.
Maybe I'm biased because my primary console is my PC and I use the switch as a secondary/portable platform.

 

[Chomiq]

I may be in the minority saying this, but I don't think that a switch successor is needed yet.
I think it's perfectly fine as a portable fun console and I like playing on mine, I don't see the value in a "next gen" version. At most a "pro" version that adds some graphics improvements and new features like they did with the "new" 3ds.

Except some of the new "ports" are already opting for streaming the actual game instead because publishers are either lazy or its nearly impossible to port the title to Switch:

Square Enix should be ashamed of the Kingdom Hearts release on Switch

Kingdom Hearts is – finally – coming to Switch. But its arrival is leaving a lot of dedicated Kingdom Hearts fans with a bad taste in their mouths

www.vg247.com

 

[progste]

Except some of the new "ports" are already opting for streaming the actual game instead because publishers are either lazy or its nearly impossible to port the title to Switch:

Square Enix should be ashamed of the Kingdom Hearts release on Switch

Kingdom Hearts is – finally – coming to Switch. But its arrival is leaving a lot of dedicated Kingdom Hearts fans with a bad taste in their mouths

www.vg247.com

It's an exception, square + KH has always been lazy.
I don't see why it would be impossible or even hard to port a game like KH when there is doom and witcher 3 on it.

 

[Chomiq]

It's an exception, square + KH has always been lazy.
I don't see why it would be impossible or even hard to port a game like KH when there is doom and witcher 3 on it.

Control, Hitman 3, Guardians of the Galaxy. These new multiplatform AA/AAA titles aren't getting less demanding.

 

[progste]

Control, Hitman 3, Guardians of the Galaxy. These new multiplatform AA/AAA titles aren't getting less demanding.

you just take out some eye-candy and they can run on it, this isn't the ps2 era where certain games couldn't run on consoles no matter what.

edit: wait, just realized it's all square-enix games, so isn't square just trying to cash in with cloud instead of proper ports?