We have interesting new leaks that opens quite the rabbit hole of speculation when it comes to the next Nintendo console, that has been informally dubbed the Switch 2.
While we had earlier made it a point to explain that Nintendo has yet to reveal if the next console would once again be a hybrid portable/home console, these latest rumors have been claiming that is essentially what it will be. Those sources and leakers have also embraced the Switch 2 name, indicating their certainty about this fact about the platform.
As discussed on Reddit by user EnsureMIlk, Kepler_L2 revealed that the Switch 2 will use the Tegra T239 SOC. Kepler_L2 provided proof in the form of a document from Nvidia’s own Github.
The document further states that the SOC is based on AMPERE _B. This is comparable to the Nvidia 3080Ti, a GPU that released to the market 2 years ago. Now, Kepler_L2 is not saying that the Switch 2’s GPU will be as powerful as the Nvidia 3080Ti. They are saying that they may have the same or a similar feature set.
Another leaker, kopite7kimi, liked this post corroborating Kepler_L2’s claims. kopite7kimi also claims that the SOC’s codename is Drake.
But that’s not all. Necro from Universo Nintendo was looking at those tweets, and replied to someone asking, that the Tegra T239 will have DLSS 3.
Now, the recent rumors we had been covering out of Gamescom was focused on DLSS being a game changer for the Switch 2. Some people described it as Nintendo ‘cheating’ to match their competitors by using upscaling. But these rumors didn’t say anything about the SOC powering the Switch 2. Obviously, the Switch also has a Tegra processor, but it isn’t powerful enough to run DLSS, otherwise Nintendo and Nvidia would have already leveraged that technology.
The interesting thing is, there were prior leaks that the Switch 2’s SOC was the SOC. This rumor from July emerged in 4chan, which is rightfully considered an unreliable source. At least in this instance, the users there may have been correct.
But even more interesting than that was last year. Last year, kopite7kimi claimed that the Switch 2 would be using the Tegra T239. kopite7kimi made sure to comment on Kepler_L2’s tweets because Kepler_L2 was corroborating those claims from last year.
In regards to the Tegra T239’s power, the Nvidia 3080Ti has 8 cores, like other chips based on AMPERE _B. While we can’t make a one is to one comparison, the CPUs that AMD supplied to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One also have 8 cores. So, it seems likely that the Switch 2 will genuinely match the power of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
But, in a way, that isn’t a surprise. Nintendo may not necessarily compete on power, but they are mindful of not getting left behind too much. DLSS, however, may prove to be the gamechanger that gets Nintendo caught up to Sony and Microsoft in a big way.
Finally, here is your reminder that these are all rumors, Nintendo did not officially announce these, so we can’t take it against the company when none of these things turn out to be true.
