Nintendo Switch 2 Patent Reveals AI Upscaling Technology, Potentially Rivaling PS5 Pro's Capabilities

Nintendo Switch 2 could have AI upscaling similar to PS5 Pro's PSSR according to patent, and it could be a gamechanger for graphics on the upcoming console

New info on the console is scarce but this could mean older games look better on Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 is likely to have AI Upscaling which could drastically improve performance and graphics on Nintendo's upcoming console. A patent that previously used vague language hinting that the Switch 2 would be able to "convert images through the use of a trained neural network." has now been updated to showcase how the Switch 2 would go about upscaling 540p to 1080p. Initially reported by Mike Odyssey on X, the updated patent all but confirms Nintendo Switch 2 to be capable of upscaling for much-improved graphics when playing games. With the ability to double resolution from 540p to 1080p, handheld games could look significantly better on the Switch 2 than its predecessor. Backward-compatible games like Super Mario Odyssey or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom could run much better on this new hardware with AI upscaling. This feature would be a huge reason to upgrade for current Nintendo Switch owners. With the Nintendo Switch 2 likely to have AI upscaling similar to Nvidia's DLSS or PS5 Pro's PSSR there's a huge reason to be excited for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 reveal on April 2. At the time of writing, official information on the Nintendo Switch's successor is scarce following Nintendo's trailer reveal in February. That said, we expect to hear more about performance and the console's hardware in April when Nintendo pulls the cover on one of the most-anticipated console launches of all time. As a huge Nintendo fan, and a sucker for good performance, I think Switch titles that have been released over the last few years have struggled with the aging hardware. One of the main reasons I'm excited to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 is to play my old Switch games because I hoped that Nintendo would find a way to improve them with better hardware. Now, thanks to this patent there's a real possibility that Nintendo Switch games will look and play better on the new console. For me, even if there were no new games at launch, that would be enough to part with my hard-earned cash.

Nintendo Switch 2 might have a surprising AI feature

Nintendo might have new tech to make original Switch games look better. (Image credit: Nintendo) The Nintendo Switch 2 is just weeks away from its big reval. The Mario maker plans to show off its newest console on April 2 in a Nintendo Direct. There are still a lot of questions about the Switch 2 such as how much will it cost and when will it launch. One major feature that has been confirmed is backward compatibility with the original Switch games, and it appears there could be some enhancements with these older games. Nintendo recently patented new technology using AI to upscale an image, according to a report from Forbes. The patent, first spotted by a user on X, is for a "computer system converting images through use of a trained neural network." This tech would take a 540p image, which is the same resolution as the Switch, and use a neural network to convert the image to 1080p. Nintendo didn't hint at there being an improvement with Switch games playing on the Switch 2, but the recently released Xenoblade Chronicles X might also confirm improvements coming to Switch games. Released last week, the game has a strange bit code that one modder discovered, as reported by Polygon. The unused code is for a 60fps setting for the game. It's unclear whether this setting could be implemented as a graphics upgrade when playing the game on the Switch 2 or maybe a leftover code for a setting used by developers. Nintendo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment confirming the AI upscaling technology for the Switch 2. Nintendo teased the Switch 2 back in January in a short video. Only a few features were shown at the time. Of the features, the most notable is that the Switch 2 will have an 8-inch LCD display. There will be an improvement in the graphics, but how much is still a mystery. Third-party developers are reportedly preparing to bring their AAA games over to the Switch 2 as the original Switch didn't have the power to run these games. Another interesting change with the Switch 2 is with its controls. The Joy-Cons will connect to the console with magnets instead of rails, and it appears that each Joy-Con will work similarly to a mouse. How this will be used and for which games remains unknown. There is speculation on the price of the Switch 2, but analysts suspect the new console will be higher than the original's $299 price tag. The most likely starting price is $349 although it could go up to $399. A reason for this increase in price is due to the higher costs of hardware. It's still unknown whether tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump will have any effect on the price. As for when the Switch 2 will come out, Nintendo is planning a world tour for the new console called the "Switch 2 Experience." It starts on April 4 in New York City and continues on in April and May with dates in cities across the globe. The last scheduled date, as of now, is on June 1 in Seoul, South Korea. This would make for the most likely release date to happen sometime this summer, probably in June. There have been reports of Nintendo already shipping Switch 2 units to the U.S. earlier this month.

Patented: Switch 2 will use AI upscaling for handheld mode

Nintendo is set to unveil more details about the Switch 2 during an upcoming Direct presentation on April 2, 2025. In the lead-up to the event, updates to patents and FCC filings have provided insights into the console's capabilities. On March 13, Nintendo updated an existing patent to include information about AI resolution upscaling technology for the Switch 2. This updated patent features a method to enhance image quality, specifically for handheld mode, utilizing AI to upscale resolutions from lower to higher formats. Notably, this AI upscaler aims to convert images rendered at 540p to 1080p, potentially delivering improved frame rates compared to full native renders. This technology is distinct from generative AI, focusing instead on enhancing resolution without fundamentally altering the game graphics. It is anticipated that this feature could be used predominantly to improve the performance of existing Switch games on the new hardware. Waiting for the Switch 2? Nintendo just made your decision easier The patent also states that while the original Switch will continue receiving support from Nintendo, including upcoming titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, it is unclear whether those games will see performance improvements when played on the Switch 2. The Switch 2 will maintain backward compatibility with most physical and digital Switch games, with only a few exceptions. Although some FCC filings have confirmed the wireless capabilities of the console, the updated patent indicates that there is more to discover ahead of the Direct presentation. Further details about the Switch 2's pricing, release date, and additional features are expected to be revealed during the April 2 Nintendo Direct broadcast. However, the impact of AI upscaling on battery life and its applicability in Docked Mode remains unspecified, along with the list of games that will support this new feature.

Nintendo Switch 2 filing reveals AI upscaling: 720p to 4K, 1080p to 1440p

TL;DR: The FCC has revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 may include AI upscaling technology, capable of enhancing image resolution from 540p to 1080p and potentially 720p to 4K. This technology, powered by NVIDIA's Tegra T239 SoC, might be used for older games. Filings date back to 2020, suggesting possible changes since then. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has yet again revealed some unannounced details about the Nintendo Switch 2. This time, the inclusion of what appears to be upscaling technology. It was only recently that filing with the FCC revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 will have two USB-C ports and the support for Wi-Fi 6. Now, another filing has been discovered and has seemingly revealed the inclusion of AI upscaling technology, with the above image showcasing a process of taking a low-resolution image through a render pipeline that increases the output resolution of the image seen on screen. It should be noted that this technology may not be used for Nintendo's newly released games but instead, it's old games from previous console generations, as the image depicts a 540p image being bumped up to 1080p. There are very few new games on the original Switch that launch with a 540p resolution, and most are extremely graphically intensive and only briefly drop down to this resolution when in handheld mode. Regardless of where the technology is used, it appears the Switch 2 will feature some kind of AI upscaling technology, which, if true, isn't totally surprising since NVIDIA is slated to power the upcoming console with an SoC from the Ampere generation of GPUs, specifically the NVIDIA Tegra T239 SoC. This SoC is capable of AI upscaling. Digging more into the filing, there is language that states the AI upscaler will also be able to take a 720p image and convert it to a 4K image. It should be noted these filings date back to 2020 and were published in 2021, meaning quite a lot may have changed between now and when this technology was created. "For example, a neural network for upconverting to 1080p from 540p will be different than one upconverting from 1080p to 1440p (e.g., 2560×1440). It will also be appreciated that while the example shown in FIGS. 3-7 relates to transforming a 540p image to a 1080p image, the techniques herein may be applied to other image sizes (e.g., 720p to 1080p; 480p to 1080p, 1080p to 1440p, 1080p to 4k/3840×2160, 720p to 4K, etc.)," states the filing

Weeks before the Switch 2 Direct, updated Nintendo patent shows AI upscaling technology that could give the next console more in common with the PS5 Pro than expected

Could Nintendo be getting ready to reveal this tech during the Switch 2 Direct? An updated Nintendo patent might hint at some good news for the Switch 2, as it outlines AI upscaling technology that could give the company's upcoming hardware a bit more in common with the likes of the PS5 Pro. Highlighted by @MikeOdysseyYT on Twitter, Nintendo's "systems and methods for machine learned image conversion" patent has been newly updated as of March 13. As with any patent, its language is very complicated, but it describes that a "computer system is provided for converting images through the use of a trained neural network." Diagrams demonstrate an image being expanded and sharpened after the use of a neural network (a machine learning program), and it further describes the process of "image up-conversion," which "can be used to show images of the first resolution on a higher resolution display." While the timing of this patent update seems like it could point to the Switch 2, keeping in mind that the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is right around the corner on April 2, there's no specific mention of the console in the patent. Again, it's not a brand new patent, either - this latest update is part of a chain of continuations, with the original patent being filed in March 2020. However, unless we're counting the self-explanatory Switch OLED model, Nintendo hasn't released any new consoles since these patents first came into existence - in theory, the Switch 2 would be the first one available for Nintendo to try the technology. Previously, an internal Activision email suggested that the Switch's successor was expected to target specs closer to the PS4 and Xbox One than their current-gen counterparts, so if the Switch 2 really does use AI upscaling, it'd be a pleasant surprise in this regard. After all, one of the PS5 Pro's headline features was its special "PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution" AI upscaling tech. Anyway, with that aforementioned Direct showcase taking place in just over two weeks, it hopefully won't be too long until we find out if this is actually happening, or if Nintendo is banking the idea for potential use in the future.

Nintendo Switch 2 to feature AI resolution scaling

The latest information on Nintendo's new console, Nintendo Switch 2, has arrived from the US patent office. It will incorporate improvements in resolution scaling technology using artificial intelligence. This addition will seek to optimise the visual quality of games to offer a sharper experience. AI resolution scaling technology allows the resolution of images to be increased in real time, improving visual quality without any loss of performance. As such, future Switch 2 users can expect a more than noticeable improvement in image quality. With a release date still to be announced, more details of the new console will be revealed at the Nintendo Direct on 2 April.