The tech experts at Digital Foundry have unveiled the final technical specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting concerns among developers about the impact of the new GameChat feature on system resources. During last month's Nintendo Direct, the company introduced the Switch 2's GameChat functionality, which can be activated by pressing the C button on the new Joy-Con.
This feature allows players to watch each other play, whether they are playing the same game or different titles, and even see each other via a camera. The built-in microphone ensures reliable communication across various gaming environments. The C button's chat menu is designed to be an all-in-one solution for multiplayer interaction, potentially marking Nintendo's most successful online initiative in decades.
Digital Foundry noted that Nintendo offers developers a GameChat testing tool that simulates API latency and L3 cache misses, enabling them to test the system's performance without needing active GameChat sessions. This tool suggests that GameChat may affect system resources, prompting DF to question whether it impacts game performance for end users. While the system's allocation of resources should theoretically keep GameChat from affecting gameplay, the provision of such emulation tools indicates a potential performance hit that developers need to consider.
As Digital Foundry stated, "We'll be interested to see how GameChat may (or may not) impact game performance as this does seem to be an area of developer concern." The full impact will only be clear when the Switch 2 launches on June 5.
In addition to GameChat, Digital Foundry revealed the Switch 2's final tech specs. The console reserves 3GB of memory for the system, leaving 9GB available for games. This is a significant increase compared to the original Switch, which had a 0.8GB system reservation and 3.2GB for games. Like all consoles, the Switch 2's GPU resources are partially reserved by the system, not fully accessible to developers.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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The Switch 2 boasts a 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen capable of 1080p resolution (1920x1080), a substantial upgrade from the original Switch's 6.2-inch screen, the Switch OLED's 7-inch screen, and the Switch Lite's 5.5-inch screen. It also supports HDR10 and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz, allowing games to reach 120fps if supported by both the game and the user's setup.
When docked, the Switch 2 can output games at 4K resolution (3840x2160) at 60fps or at 1080p/1440p (1920x1080/2560x1440) at 120fps. These enhanced graphics are facilitated by a "custom processor made by NVIDIA."
For a deeper dive into the Switch 2's capabilities, Digital Foundry's detailed specs reveal is highly recommended.
