It’s finally 2025 and speculation around Switch 2 is reaching a new high. A new patent released this week shows how Nintendo could use AI-upscaling to improve the look of new games without taking up a lot of space, while alleged motherboard leaks have fans debating the power of the new hardware .
The American patent for “Machine learning image conversion systems and methods” was filed by Nintendo on July 13, 2023, but released this week only and spotted by gaming consultant Laura Kate Dale. The lengthy technical paper describes an AI upscaling process that could be used to improve image quality using software rather than raw processing power, similar to the DLSS used by Nvidia GPUs for PC gaming, as well as PSSR which was recently introduced by Sony for the PlayStation 5 Pro.
Dale also points out another potential use of the technology: reducing game file sizes. Nintendo’s first-party versions on the current Switch are infamous for their degree of optimization. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Realm is the company’s biggest game on the platform and it’s still only 18.2 GB. However, higher resolution textures and other enhanced assets can all significantly increase this digital footprint.
The patent describes an example where native 4K textures can increase a game’s install size by up to 60 GB, while a native 1080 version that uses upscaling can get away with just 20 GB, which is still less than the current 32 GB limit on existing Switch cartridge memory sizes.
News of the patent comes alongside other alleged leaks regarding the Switch 2 hardware itself. Following a recent influx of possible first look images of the upgraded consolethere is now potential photos of the actual hardware motherboard float online. This led to a heated debate about the semiconductor manufacturing process used to create the Switch 2 chip and So, how powerful could it be?.
Ultimately, though, it’s impossible to know how powerful the Switch 2 will be compared to existing, seven-year-old hardware until we get a sense of the full list of compromises Nintendo has decided to make. to do once it reveals the official list of specifications and features. If the current Switch has proven anything, it’s that the Mario maker knows how to extract great results from more affordable technology. . maker knows how to squeeze great results out of more affordable technology.
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