Nintendo Co. is planning to get an upgraded Nvidia Corp. chip with better graphics and processing for a new Switch model scheduled for the end of the shopping season, according to people familiar with the matter.
The new Switch iteration supports Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling, or DLSS, a new rendering technology that uses artificial intelligence to deliver more efficient graphics. That will cause the console, which is also set for a OLED display upgrade, to reproduce game images in 4K quality when connected to a TV, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan is not public.
The American company’s new chipset will also provide a better CPU and more memory. DLSS support requires new code to be added to games, so it will mainly be used to improve the graphics of upcoming titles, the folks, including multiple game developers, said. Bloomberg News previously reported that the new Switch is likely to feature a 7-inch OLED screen Samsung Display Co. and pair the console’s release with a plethora of new games.
Nvidia and Nintendo representatives declined to comment.
The release calendar of Nintendo Switch games remains largely empty for the second half of the year, although the company announced a new partnership with Niantic Inc. on augmented reality smartphone apps, starting with a Pikmin app in 2021.
Read more: Nintendo would focus on record year in Switch game sales
Analysts expect the new Switch to be offered at a price higher than the current model’s $ 299, a level unchanged since the Switch’s initial release in 2017. Bloomberg Intelligence’s Matthew Kanterman expects a whopping $ 100 increase .
“$ 349.99 will increase the value proposition of the device, but I still think Nintendo can drive strong demand, even at $ 399.99,” he said.
DLSS was first introduced as an image upscaling feature in 2018 and remains exclusive to Nvidia graphics cards. It’s an atypically advanced addition to Kyoto-based Nintendo, which tends to opt for more mature and cheaper technology than rivals Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. adopt with their consoles. The new Switch will still fall short of the overall performance capabilities of its more expensive rivals.
“What we appreciate is how much a new technology adds to the fun experience and how comfortable a consumer can play,” said Ko Shiota, Nintendo Senior Executive Officer last year.