3 years ago
Jakub Dominik
**It's about time for a Nintendo Switch 2**
The Microsoft - Activision Blizzard CMA has covered Nintendo's gaming market share with the following "Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) cloud gaming is only available on the Nintendo Switch device and [redacted]". This implies that the CMA is aware of another device that will support Nintendo's cloud gaming, which is only available on the Nintendo Switch and most likely will stay that way. Nintendo has always been a closed environment. The company is unlikely to open its services for other consoles or PCs unless it can refer to an as-yet-unannounced plan to enter the cloud gaming market, where older titles are streamed elsewhere. Microsoft has found success in bringing Game Pass to PC, so it is logical for Nintendo to pursue the same avenue with their older titles that would otherwise be locked only to Switch users and most likely forgotten.
The full document is publicly available, and you can read it [here](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63e3cad7d3bf7f172eae8838/M_A_Appendices_and_glossary_2.pdf). The Switch is mentioned on page 9. This is an excellent hint of something we all know, Switch 2 is due sooner or later, but there is more evidence than the above document.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/TheLegendofZeldaTearsoftheKingdom.png
**The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is to be the final major game on Nintendo Switch**
According to industry analysts, mainly [Christopher Dring](https://twitter.com/Chris_Dring) and [Andy Robinson](https://twitter.com/AndyPlaytonic), the upcoming [Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom](https://stock-checker.com/products/tears-of-the-kingdom.html) will be the last major release for the current Switch console. We should hear first-party news about new hardware in early 2024.
**The NVIDIA Leak**
This one dates back to early March 2022 but sheds some light on the upcoming Switch's capabilities. The leak mentions ["NVN2"](https://twitter.com/NWPlayer123/status/1498699245792239621), which seems to be an Application Programming Interface (API) for the Nintendo Switch 2. The API is based on Ampere, using a **Tegra 239** chip. It includes support for **DLSS 2.2**, suggesting that the console will be capable of **Ray Tracing** and higher resolution gameplay vs the original Switch console.
Furthermore, the existence of the mentioned chip was confirmed by an NVIDIA employee. Sadly, the comment is long gone, but we can see some archived employee coding he shared [here](https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/). In simple terms, this could mean the next Nintendo Switch will have an 8-core CPU capable of Ray Tracing and be placed somewhere between PS4 and PS5 performance-wise.
4K is a rumoured resolution, but remember, it is in docked mode. The handheld mode could be 1080p or 1440p, which is already enough for a 7-inch screen. A more effective resolution would have too big of an impact on battery life, which is crucial in a handheld console. We also see an array of custom resolutions, which would be required if the Ray Tracing and DLSS are part of the Nintendo Switch 2.
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**Nintendo Director hints at the backward compatibility**
As part of a Q&A session following the publication of its latest financial results, Nintendo's executives were asked about backward compatibility on new hardware. Nintendo Director Shigeru Miyamoto stated:
"Video games developed for dedicated consoles were created in different development environments for each console. As a result, when the hardware changed, the development environment could not necessarily be reused. So the video games released on older consoles could not be played on newer consoles without additional modification. Recently, however, the development environment has increasingly become more standardised. We now have an environment allowing players to enjoy older video games on newer consoles more easily than ever."
It is not an outright confirmation or a pledge. Still, it hints that backward compatibility was and is heavily discussed at Nintendo. It would be logical to include it to keep up with the competition.
**Release Date of the Nintendo Switch 2**
All recent rumours suggest a 2024 release or at least a big announcement. The original Nintendo Switch will be on the market for seven years next year. We will inevitably hear official news about the next Switch anytime soon.
**Disclaimers**
[Jakub Dominik](https://twitter.com/Hexagon90x) is a gaming and technology journalist for Stock Checker.
Images used in this article belong to Nintendo, respectively.