Subtle Details Hint at a Massive Nintendo Switch Update Which Could Hurt Steam Deck

Nintendo launched its flagship handheld console, the Nintendo Switch, in 2017. Since its launch, the console has broken records, completed milestones, and taken the entire world by storm. The successor to the Wii U is the culmination of over four decades of consumer hardware experience of the Japanese video game company. And audiences worldwide have resonated with the Switch’s masterful design.

However, one issue that has plagued the Switch for the past few years, is aging hardware. Although it hasn’t adversely affected the sales of the console, the Switch has undeniably been struggling with the more power-hungry titles of previous years. But a recent discovery could signal a change in that trend.

Nintendo Switch receives an upgrade

In a video by the YouTube channel SwitchForce, host Zach details a stunning discovery about the handheld. For context, Nintendo is currently offering a playtest for its upcoming Switch Sports title. Accordingly, the game giant has put up the intellectual property information for the title. And it is here that keen-eyed observers can find a peculiar listing titled ‘FidelityFX Super Resolution 1.0 (FSR)’.

For the uninitiated, FSR is AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s DLSS. It is an up-scaling algorithm that allows games to run at a better performance threshold for a negligible loss in visual quality. However, unlike DLSS which runs on proprietary Nvidia hardware, AMD’s offering can run on any hardware.

This would cause better performance on the aging Switch, which is yet to receive a major hardware refresh other than the Switch OLED. Nintendo has integrated this technology into Switch Sports, ensuring smooth gameplay alongside sleek graphics.

But that’s not all. Zach notes Nintendo has integrated FSR into one of Nintendo’s core graphics rendering libraries. This library has been used by major first-party titles like Breath of the Wild in the past.

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This hints at the potential use of FSR for upcoming titles like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and even third-party titles in the future! It would allow games to ensure buttery-smooth gameplay without taking from the beautiful game worlds fans love Nintendo for.

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In conclusion, Switch can continue sporting the latest games despite competitors like the Steam Deck, with vastly improved hardware. This is a win-win situation for fans, as their favorite titles would run and look even better for no extra cost.

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