A new Nintendo patent seems to back up talk about its upcoming console, possibly the Switch 2. It suggests that we might see some clever tech like DLSS-style upscaling. Imagine playing your favorite games with sharper graphics on a portable device, which is pretty exciting!
A patent was filed in July 2023 but only published recently. It describes a machine learning system that converts lower-resolution images into higher-quality versions. If you’re wondering how this works, consider AI pushing graphical settings and higher frame rates even when the hardware isn’t top-tier. That’s exactly what technologies like DLSS (deep learning super sampling) do.
For instance, Sony has its upscaling technology with the PlayStation 5 Pro called PSSR. Meanwhile, AMD’s FSR is making waves on various consoles by being applied game-by-game. Nintendo’s plans have been hinted at before by outlets suggesting that this new console will take advantage of DLSS-like technology to overcome challenges portable devices face in maintaining performance.
The patent also mentions an interesting application: using this tech to reduce game sizes so they can fit onto “smaller capacity physical media.” For example, a native 4K texture game needing a hefty download might be trimmed significantly for storage efficiency.
“The idea here is that while a game might need around 60GB for native 4K textures if you scale it down to a native version running at 1080P, this could drop to merely 20GB!” That makes it possible to fit these games onto today’s maximum-sized cartridges used for the current Switch model. Nintendo previously dabbled in AI upscaling patents as early as 2020, suggesting potential uses even in cloud gaming scenarios where low-res images are sent and then enhanced on players’ devices.
The release of alleged internal hardware images from the Switch successor made their way onto Reddit around the same time as this patent publication. They support earlier rumors regarding Nvidia hardware powering the new console if true. While Nintendo hasn’t officially introduced its next-gen switch yet, there’s chatter about an announcement planned within their current fiscal year ending March 2025. So, there’s plenty of excitement brewing!
I can’t help but reflect on how past consoles have shaped our gaming experiences and what this means moving forward. What features are you most looking forward to seeing?
