Nintendo Switch 2 Launches with Powerful Custom Nvidia Chip

Tomorrow marks the highly anticipated launch of Nintendo’s Switch 2, powered by a groundbreaking custom processor developed by Nvidia. Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, shared heartfelt reflections on the decade-long partnership between the two companies and the visionary legacy of Nintendo’s late CEO, Satoru Iwata.

Iwata’s dream was ambitious: a console that could deliver cinematic, high-powered gaming experiences while remaining portable enough to take anywhere. This vision led to the original Nintendo Switch, a device that revolutionized gaming with over 150 million units sold worldwide.

The Switch 2 takes this vision further with the Nvidia T239 chip, featuring an Ampere-based GPU with 1,536 CUDA cores running at up to 1GHz in docked mode. It supports 4K gaming, hardware ray tracing, and AI-driven enhancements like DLSS, powered by RT and Tensor Cores.

The system includes eight ARM Cortex-A78C CPU cores, 12GB of LPDDR5X memory, and ultra-fast storage with 256GB UFS 3.1. Its architecture supports backward compatibility and ultra-low power consumption, making it a technical marvel optimized for handheld use.

Huang emphasized that this chip represents a fusion of performance, intelligence, and beauty, embodying Iwata’s original purpose to engineer joy through technology. The Switch 2 is not just a new console; it’s a bold new chapter in gaming innovation.

For gamers and developers alike, the Switch 2’s launch signals exciting opportunities to explore advanced graphics, AI-powered gameplay enhancements, and portable 4K experiences. It also highlights the importance of semiconductor innovation in shaping the future of interactive entertainment.

Key Technical Highlights of Nintendo Switch 2

• Custom Nvidia T239 processor with Ampere-based GPU
• 1,536 CUDA cores delivering up to 3.07 TeraFLOPS (docked)
• Eight ARM Cortex-A78C CPU cores and 12GB LPDDR5X memory
• Support for hardware ray tracing, DLSS, and AI-driven gameplay enhancements
• Backward compatibility and ultra-low power design for handheld use

The Nintendo Switch 2 launch is a testament to how collaboration between visionary gaming companies and semiconductor innovators can push the boundaries of what’s possible in portable gaming. For developers, this means new tools and hardware capabilities to create richer, more immersive experiences that travel with players.

As Nvidia continues to integrate AI and advanced graphics into gaming hardware, the Switch 2 sets a new standard for performance and portability. It’s a bold step forward that honors the legacy of innovation and joy that Nintendo and Nvidia have built together.