Nintendo Wishes That the Switch Hardware Was Faster So Developers Could Make Any Kind of Game They Want

Beyond just focusing on technical specifications, we’ve gathered quite a bit of insight about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 thanks to the latest Direct presentation and developer Q&A sessions. In a recent developer Q&A, producer Kouichi Kwamoto shared that one key objective in creating the Nintendo Switch 2 is to encourage developers to develop more ambitious games.

The performance issues experienced with the original Switch were due to its less potent hardware. Although most games ran satisfactorily on the platform, numerous games, both from third-party and first-party developers, would have undeniably run more smoothly if they had been granted additional processing power for better frame rates.

Initially, there were instances where we yearned for a faster processor within the Switch system to deliver unique and unmatched gaming experiences, stated Kawamoto. Over time, I’ve come to understand that the processor we opted for during the Switch’s development was the most suitable choice at the moment. However, it became apparent later on that this didn’t necessarily imply developers could create any type of game they desired with it.

Initially, the original Nintendo Switch utilized a processor built on Nvidia’s Tegra system-on-chip architecture. When it was released in 2017, this chip was relatively old as it had been introduced earlier in the decade for use in tablets such as Google’s Nexus 7. Conversely, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be equipped with a newly designed custom chip by Nvidia, which is rumored to be based on their more recent Tegra 239 architecture.

Kawamoto’s comments echo those made by Takuhiro Dohta during a similar discussion, where he expressed plans to tackle issues with the Switch through its successor, the Switch 2. To accomplish this, the company chose not to include any novel hardware features for their latest console, differing from past consoles such as the 3DS’s stereoscopic 3D effect and the Wii U’s dual-screen home console approach.

Speaking from a game developer’s point of view, Dohta shared their thoughts on designing an ideal console. In previous years, Nintendo had developed software that leveraged unique hardware capabilities like the Wii Remote and the dual screens on the Nintendo DS. But since the launch of Switch, it seems there’s been a noticeable change in how developers approach creating games.

As a game developer, instead of relying on unique hardware capabilities alone, I now have the freedom to pick and choose the software technologies that will give my games that extra edge and make them truly shine.

Additionally, Dohta discussed enhancing the processing speed of the Switch 2 for the purpose of enabling developers to create desired types of games. Given that not all developers may utilize unique hardware features, the Switch 2 is primarily viewed as an incremental improvement over the original Switch.

As a software developer, I believe that simply upgrading hardware doesn’t automatically resolve issues or generate numerous new gaming experiences. That being said, we enhanced the processing speed of Switch 2 in order to establish it as a robust and reliable platform for game development, providing developers with the freedom to create their desired games.

On June 5th, you’ll find the Nintendo Switch 2 in stores, and it’s going to be a big day with numerous game launches. Among them are “Mario Kart World” and “Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.

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2025-04-04 17:12