The tech experts at Digital Foundry have unveiled the final tech specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, and they've raised concerns about the impact of the GameChat feature on system resources, suggesting that it's a significant worry for developers.
During last month's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo introduced the Switch 2's GameChat functionality, which is activated by pressing the C button on the new Joy-Con. This feature allows players to watch each other play the same or different games and, with the aid of a camera, even see one another. The built-in microphone ensures reliable communication, regardless of the player's gaming environment. The C button's chat menu is designed to be an all-in-one multiplayer feature, potentially marking Nintendo's most successful online initiative in decades.
Digital Foundry reports that Nintendo offers developers a GameChat testing tool to simulate API latency and L3 cache misses, mimicking real-world conditions without the need for active GameChat sessions. This raises questions about whether GameChat affects game performance for end users. If GameChat resources are allocated within the system's capacity, it shouldn't impact performance. However, the provision of emulation tools suggests that developers must account for some resource impact.
As Digital Foundry notes, "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 true effects won't be known until the Switch 2's release on June 5.
Meanwhile, Digital Foundry has revealed the Switch 2's final tech specs. The Switch 2 reserves 3GB of memory for the system, leaving 9GB available for games. For comparison, the original Switch reserves 0.8GB, with 3.2GB available for games. This allocation represents a significant portion of the Switch 2's resources that are not accessible to game developers. As with other consoles, the Switch 2 does not provide full GPU access to developers, with some resources reserved for system functions.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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The Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen capable of 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, a notable 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. Additionally, it supports HDR10 and VRR up to 120 Hz, enabling games to reach 120fps when supported by the game and the user's setup.
When docked, the Switch 2 can play games at 4K (3840x2160) resolution at 60fps or at 1080p/1440p (1920x1080/2560x1440) at 120fps. These enhanced graphics are powered by a "custom processor made by NVIDIA."
For a deeper dive into the Switch 2's specifications, Digital Foundry's detailed analysis is highly recommended.
