Tech Experts: Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat Impacts System Resources Significantly, Final Specs Out

The tech experts at Digital Foundry have unveiled the final technical specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, alongside a significant revelation about its GameChat feature. According to Digital Foundry, GameChat has a "significant impact" on system resources, causing concern among developers.

During last month’s Nintendo Direct, Nintendo introduced the Switch 2’s GameChat functionality, which can be easily activated by pressing the C button on the new Joy-Con. This feature allows players to watch each other playing the same or different games and, with the help of a camera, even see one another. A built-in microphone ensures reliable audio communication regardless of the gaming environment. The C button's chat menu is designed to be an all-in-one multiplayer feature, potentially marking Nintendo's most successful online initiative in decades.

Digital Foundry noted that Nintendo offers developers a GameChat testing tool that simulates API latency and L3 cache misses, allowing developers to test the system's performance without needing active GameChat sessions. This raises questions about whether GameChat impacts game performance for end users. Ideally, if GameChat resources are allocated within the system's capacity, it should not affect performance. However, the provision of GameChat emulation tools suggests there might be a performance hit that developers need to account for.

As Digital Foundry stated, "We'll be interested to see how GameChat may (or may not) impact game performance as this does seem to be an area of developer concern." We'll have to wait until the Switch 2's release on June 5 to see the full impact.

In addition to the GameChat concerns, Digital Foundry disclosed the Switch 2's final tech specs. The Switch 2 reserves 3GB of memory for the system, leaving 9GB available for games. This is a notable difference from the original Switch, which has a 0.8GB system reservation and 3.2GB available for games. As with all consoles, developers of the Switch 2 do not have access to the full GPU resources, as some are reserved by the system.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

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The Switch 2 boasts a 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen capable of outputting at 1080p (1920x1080), a significant upgrade from the Switch 1's 6.2-inch, the Switch OLED's 7-inch, and the Switch Lite's 5.5-inch screens. Additionally, it supports HDR10 and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz, allowing games to reach 120fps if both the game and the user's setup support it.

When docked, the Switch 2 can play games at 4K (3840x2160) resolution at 60fps or at 1080p/1440p (1920x1080/2560x1440) at 120fps. These enhanced graphics are powered by a "custom processor made by NVIDIA."

For a more in-depth look at the Switch 2's specs, Digital Foundry's detailed analysis is highly recommended.