Nintendo secretly showed developers the “Switch 2”

While Gamescom 2023, also known as the Cologne Game Show, has long concluded, its impact can be best described as an echo that lingers, resounding for days on end. As reported by Eurogamer and VGC, Nintendo did not merely tantalize gamers with hands-on experiences of “Pikmin 4” and “Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” at their booth; behind the curtains, they unveiled their next-generation console hardware, colloquially dubbed the “Switch 2”, to a select group of invited developers.

Eurogamer notes that during this private rendezvous, Nintendo showcased a new console running a technical demonstration. This demo was an enhanced version of “Zelda: Breath of the Wild”, designed expressly to flaunt the superior prowess of the “Switch 2”. Sources at VGC further attest that this technical demo boasted a higher frame rate and resolution than the original game. However, both Eurogamer and VGC were quick to emphasize that this remains merely a tech demo, with no concrete information indicating a potentially enhanced version of the game being released.

In a surprising revelation, VGC’s informants disclosed that the new console also ran a demonstration of “The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo”. Originally crafted in 2021 for what were then next-gen consoles – PS5 and Xbox Series X (now considered current-gen) – this demo incorporated groundbreaking visual enhancements from the Unreal 5 Engine, such as Lumen and Nanite, demanding exceedingly high hardware capabilities.

Insiders have also indicated that during its operation on the “Switch 2”, this application utilized NVIDIA’s DLSS super-resolution technology and advanced ray-tracing capabilities, allowing the “Switch 2” graphics to rival those of Sony and Microsoft’s offerings, or so the original claim went. Nonetheless, VGC was prudent to note that this does not necessarily suggest that the actual performance of the “Switch 2” would be on par with the likes of the PS5 or Xbox Series X, given their distinct form factors.

From the gleanings of Eurogamer and VGC, the performance of Nintendo’s forthcoming console indeed beckons with promise. However, myriad details such as the console’s design, dimensions, and even its moniker remain shrouded in mystery. Rumor has it that this console is slated for a Q1 2024 release, and we anticipate its grand unveiling in the not-so-distant future.