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Nintendo Switch Pro Reportedly Launching with DLSS

By Laura Tucker
Nintendo Switch Pro Featured

This news could leave gamers salivating until the end of the year. Just like the 2020 holiday season bringing new Xboxes and a new PlayStation, holiday shoppers could be putting a new Nintendo handheld in their shopping carts in 2021. A popular rumor is stating that a Nintendo Switch Pro with support for DLSS could be released by the end of the year.

Rumored Release of Nintendo Switch Pro

Bloomberg had plenty of exciting details about the new Nintendo device. All articles on the news point back to Bloomberg, who received the information from “people familiar with the matter.”

What is being widely referred to as the “Nintendo Switch Pro” will include support for Nvidia Corp.’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). This technology “uses artificial intelligence to deliver higher-fidelity graphics more efficiently.” This would allow the handheld gaming system to produce 4K-quality visuals when connected to a television. Reportedly, there will also be an OLED display upgrade.

Nintendo Switch Lite Upright

The Nvidia chipset will include an improved CPU and more memory. New code, intended to improve graphics, will need to be added to games to have the DLSS support. Previously, Bloomberg had reported that Samsung would be supplying the 7-inch OLED screen and that there would be a bevy of new game titles.

“The move should propel more support to the platform from outside software developers. Thus, it’s definitely a big plus to hardware and software sales,” said Morningstar Research analyst Kazunori Ito. “ Nintendo is learning well from mistakes in the past, when its hit Wii lost momentum so quickly because the console wasn’t compatible with high-definition resolution.”

When DLSS was first introduced in 2018, it was for better quality images. The feature is still only offered on Nvidia graphics cards. Nintendo seems to be stepping out on a limb with this, as they aren’t usually known for taking such bold steps.

“The graphics boost is a direct shot at core gamers who want to play the next Breath of the Wild, Pokemon, or the new Monster Hunter in the best quality,” believes Michael Prefontaine, Silicon Studio Corp. global lead developer.

Nintendo Switch Pro Black

“It is not a big appeal to Nintendo’s usual target of families and kids, who are mostly driven by content. It does show, however, that Nintendo wants to compete more.”

Expected Availability

Perhaps adding to the Nintendo Switch Pro rumors, there doesn’t seem to be much happening with any Switch games releases in the second half of the year.

Most likely because the new Switch is assumed to be a “Pro,” analysts assume it will have a higher price. The current switch is $299, the same price it’s been for four years.

“$349.99 will increase the value proposition of the device, but I still think Nintendo can drive strong demand even at $399.99,” said Bloomberg Intelligence’s Matthew Kanterman.

If you don’t want to until the end of the year for a new gaming system, read our comparison of PS5 vs. Xbox Series ✗ vs. Nintendo Switch.

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Laura Tucker Avatar
Laura Tucker
Laura has spent more than 20 years writing news, reviews, and op-eds, with the majority of those years as an editor as well. She has exclusively used Apple products for the past 35 years. In addition to writing and editing at MTE, she also runs the site’s sponsored review program.

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