The Nintendo Switch 2 has been praised for its impressive performance leap over its predecessor, and much of that magic has been attributed to its use of Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. However, the tech wizards at Digital Foundry have taken a closer look under the hood, and their findings reveal a classic Nintendo compromise. According to expert Alex Battaglia, the Switch 2 isn’t using the same powerful DLSS you’d find in a high-end PC; it’s using a custom, lightweight version he dubs “DLSS lite.”
What Is ‘DLSS Lite’?
In a technical breakdown posted online, Battaglia explains that the upscaling model in the Switch 2 is not the same complex, AI-driven process found in Nvidia’s desktop GPUs. He notes, “It doesn’t even run the same model as DLSS CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) for most games.” Instead, it uses a more streamlined version designed for the efficiency required by a mobile chipset.
The core difference comes down to a trade-off. This “DLSS lite” is significantly faster and less demanding on the hardware. According to Battaglia, it effectively “halves the frame time cost,” which is a massive performance gain. However, this speed comes at a price: “noticeably worse quality.” This means that while the Switch 2 can achieve higher and more stable frame rates, the final upscaled image is likely to have more visual artifacts, shimmering, or a generally softer look compared to what PC players are used to from high-end DLSS implementations.
A Classic Nintendo Engineering Compromise
This approach is perfectly in line with Nintendo’s long-standing hardware philosophy. The company has always prioritized innovative gameplay and smooth performance over raw graphical fidelity. The Switch 2 is a portable device with strict thermal and power constraints; it simply cannot accommodate the same power-hungry hardware as a desktop PC or even a home console like the PS5.
Therefore, using a custom, lightweight version of DLSS is a brilliant engineering compromise. It allows the console to run visually complex, modern games at playable frame rates without melting the battery or the device itself. It’s the key that unlocks the Switch 2’s ability to punch well above its weight class, even if it doesn’t deliver the pristine 4K image quality some might have hoped for.
What This Means for Gamers
Ultimately, this technical detail shouldn’t be seen as bad news. It simply clarifies what the Switch 2 is and isn’t. It is not a 4K powerhouse meant to compete directly with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on graphical prowess. It is a next-generation portable device that uses clever technology to deliver incredible gaming experiences in a handheld form factor. The use of “DLSS lite” is a means to an end, and that end is playing demanding games like Tears of the Kingdom‘s sequel smoothly on the go.
This analysis aligns with Digital Foundry’s broader hardware review of the console, which praised its performance upgrade but lamented the quality of its LCD screen. The Switch 2 is a machine of smart, pragmatic compromises, and its custom DLSS is perhaps the smartest one of all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Digital Foundry say about the Switch 2’s DLSS?
Alex Battaglia described it as a “lite” version of DLSS that is faster and less hardware-intensive than the version used in PC graphics cards, but which produces “noticeably worse” image quality.
Why does the Switch 2 use a different version of DLSS?
As a portable console, the Switch 2 has significant power and thermal limitations. A lightweight version of DLSS allows it to achieve the performance benefits of upscaling without the massive power draw of the full PC version, leading to better frame rates and battery life.
Does this mean the graphics on Switch 2 are bad?
Not at all. It simply means that the upscaled image may not be as sharp or clean as what you would see from a high-end PC. The trade-off allows for much more complex and better-performing games than would otherwise be possible on a handheld device.
What is DLSS?
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is an AI-powered upscaling technology created by Nvidia. It allows a game to be rendered at a lower internal resolution and then uses AI to intelligently upscale it to a higher resolution (like 1080p or 4K), providing a significant performance boost with minimal loss in image quality.
Is the Switch 2 still a powerful console?
Yes, for a handheld, it is a very powerful and impressive leap over the original Switch, largely thanks to clever hardware design and technologies like its custom DLSS.
Conclusion
The revelation that the Switch 2 uses a form of “DLSS lite” isn’t a scandal; it’s an insight into Nintendo’s genius for hardware design. They have once again prioritized performance and gameplay feel over a spec sheet war, creating a custom solution perfectly tailored to the constraints of a portable device. It’s not the DLSS that PC enthusiasts know, but it’s precisely the DLSS that the Switch 2 needs to power the next generation of Nintendo’s legendary games.