The arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 is causing a stir in the gaming world. Nintendo's decision to use a custom Nvidia Tegra processor instead of an AMD APU paved the way for support for Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology. This change is crucial to making CD Projekt RED's iconic Cyberpunk 2077 playable on the Switch 2. With the help of DLSS, the handheld is set to take AAA games to new heights.
DLSS is Nvidia's upscaling technology that improves the visual quality of games and smooths performance. As confirmed by CD Projekt RED, Cyberpunk 2077 is powered by a custom version of DLSS that utilizes the Switch 2's Tensor Cores. Optimized for quality or performance in docked and handheld modes, the technology aims to run the game at 1080p at 30-40 fps. In handheld mode, 720p is available for performance and 1080p for quality.
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However, the arrival of DLSS is leading to mixed reactions. As Digital Foundry points out, some visual disturbances, such as jagged edges, have been noted in footage of Cyberpunk 2077. Such issues can sometimes disrupt the immersion of the game. However, DLSS hides some of the quirks by using lower resolution and motion blur. The technology also uses a trick to output at lower resolutions to save bandwidth, which helps games like Cyberpunk 2077 run on the Switch 2's limited hardware.
When you consider the failures of cloud gaming experiences on the original Switch, such as Resident Evil Village and Hitman, the importance of DLSS is clear. Cloud gaming was often unstable, but the native processing power of the Switch 2 is likely to avoid these problems. If a game like Cyberpunk 2077 works on the Switch 2, fans will be hoping that other AAA games will also come to the platform in the future.
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The criticisms of DLSS are notable. Some worry that it will be used as an excuse for game optimization. Poor ports of games like Mortal Kombat 11 and games like Hogwarts Legacy, which omitted open-world elements, have exposed the limitations of the original Switch. But with the help of DLSS, the Switch 2 shows the potential to overcome these obstacles, offering developers new ways to optimize games.
Overall, DLSS is not a magic bullet, but it is essential for the future of the Nintendo Switch 2. The success of Cyberpunk 2077 indicates the capabilities of this device and its potential to bring AAA games into a new era of handheld gaming. The gaming world is waiting with bated breath to see what this technological leap for the Switch 2 will achieve.