The 5 Biggest Upgrades Expected for the Nintendo Switch 2

When the Nintendo Switch launched eight years ago, it marked a major change for the games industry. Suddenly, pocket-sized games can go anywhere, along with a console-like interface to play them.

Since then we’ve seen the release of the Steam Deck, the Asus ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go, and many other portable systems looking to bring that experience to PC gaming.

The Nintendo Switch debuted in early 2017, and eeven then the hardware was quite outdated. The Nvidia Tegra That went well for a while, but after all these years the Switch is showing its age.

Now its successor appears to be on the way, and we expect the Switch 2 – as we’re calling it pending an official announcement – ​​to be a more robust system overall.

But what can we expect when it comes out? Here’s what we expect based on the latest details reported by reputable publications and reliable leaks. However, please note that this is not a confirmation of final hardware specifications. Nintendo is notoriously secretive about its hardware and has yet to officially confirm much about the console.

Controller upgrades

The Joy-Con controllers have been one of the most divisive parts of the Nintendo Switch since its release. They are thin and light, with much smaller analog sticks than other controllers.

Analog stick drift has been a consistent problem with Joy-Con controllers for years. The mounting system is quite solid, but the rails can bend if abused.

Rumor has it that Nintendo is addressing at least some of the issues involved.

Magnetic attachment

The Switch successor will reportedly use a magnetic mounting system for the new controllers.

According to Polygonthis could be done with strong electropermanent magnets that can be switched on or off with electric current. A button on the back of the system would likely unlock the handheld’s controllers.

Hall Effect sticks

Current first-party game controllers use potentiometers to determine position, and the analog sticks must make contact with that material to directly detect that position. Over time, the connection between the stick and the potentiometer can be broken by dust and dirt, or by corrosion of the metals involved in the contact.

The new Switch controllers will reportedly use Hall Effect technology, which detects position using magnets and involves no contact between the stick and sensor, allowing for wear-free reading.

They are more expensive to produce, but avoiding a stick drift class action lawsuit can be cheaper.

What is that sensor?

Leaked photos of the Switch 2 controller show some sort of sensor between the SL and SR buttons: the buttons that act as shoulder buttons when you hold a Joy-Con as a standalone mini controller.

The sensor resembles the one on the underside of optical mice, suggesting it could potentially allow the controller to function as a mouse.

Alternatively, it can serve to establish a proper connection to the Switch 2 console or for some other purpose. However, the possibility of a Switch-compatible mouse raises hopes for a new Mario Paint game – a nostalgic throwback to the Super Nintendo era – or additional control options for online shooters, strategy games and more.

Bigger screen, higher resolution

Reports suggest we’ll be getting a bigger screen too. The screen will reportedly be an LCD instead of OLED – sure to be a disappointment for Switch OLED owners and Switch fans hoping to upgrade to an OLED screen along with the Switch 2.

However, those reports also suggest the screen will be a generous 8 inches compared to the original 6.2 inch Switch screen. The Switch OLED display is 7 inches. This screen will reportedly have a resolution of 1080p, compared to the current model’s 720p.

Speak with TechRadarthe CEO of Dbrand, a company that makes skins and accessories for a variety of electronics, Adam Ijaz claims that “the console will be 270mm wide, 116mm high and 14mm thick, compared to the Switch’s dimensions of 242mm x 102mm x 13.9mm. ” In other words: slightly larger and wider, but not dramatically.

Reports also suggest that the Switch 2, when docked, will offer significantly more power and may even be capable of 4K graphics; we’re skeptical about the latter, but crossing our fingers anyway.

Backwards compatibility

Nintendo itself has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with original Switch games.

“Switch software will also be playable on the successor to the Nintendo Switch,” the company said in an X after attributed to Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa last November. “Nintendo Switch Online will also be available on the successor to the Nintendo Switch.”

That suggests the system will have a cartridge slot that accepts Switch cartridges, and digital games will be ported as well.

Nintendo has struggled with backwards compatibility in the past, in part because the company has changed the save formats and sizes on virtually every console with each release. However, the enthusiasm for playing older games is now significantly higher than ever before, and Nintendo may be feeling that pressure.

Improved specifications

We know the least about the exact specifications, partly because you can’t find out the hardware specs by taking a surreptitious photo of the system.

Digital foundry believes the Nintendo Switch 2 will use Nvidia’s T239 processor. This would also potentially open up the Nintendo Switch 2 to a feature that has given PC gaming an edge in rendering high-end graphics on mid-range or slightly older systems: DLSS.

DLSS allows a GPU to run a game at a low resolution and then resample the image and display a compelling result at a much higher resolution.

This technology has become increasingly common in games in recent years, and if it’s available on the Nintendo Switch 2 it could mean significantly better visuals in games without having to rely on pure horsepower.

According to reports, the overall system power is around that of a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. That seems a bit low, but DLSS would make that a bit of a moot point even if that is the case.

Better battery life

According to the Broken Silicon podcast via TechRadarthe Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly clock much higher than we expect when docked, but will clock “crazy low” when undocked.

That will hinder the system’s visual capabilities when gaming on the go, but a lower clock speed could significantly improve battery life – this is one of the most sought-after features by Switch owners.

This is all rumors, leaks, and speculation at this point, so take it with a grain of salt big enough to turn it into a lampshade.

Nintendo is reportedly planning to crack down on system scalping making enough consoles to meet consumer demand. The company has yet to officially confirm the console’s name and hasn’t whispered a word about price or release date, so we’re just as curious about those items as you are.

But a recent wave of leaks – enough for where Nintendo was prompted to comment on the run – suggests a reveal could be just around the corner. Stay informed.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair