Nintendo Switch 2 Motherboard Images Surface Online

The first significant tech leak of the year appears to revolve around the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Three images showcasing the upcoming console’s motherboard have reportedly surfaced on Reddit, sparking discussions among gaming enthusiasts.

The leaked motherboard features SK Hynix LPDDR5 48Gbit memory. Additionally, the images reveal NVIDIA’s logo, which aligns with earlier reports suggesting that NVIDIA hardware will once again power the Nintendo Switch 2. Specifically, the console is expected to utilize the Tegra 239 System-on-Chip (SoC), derived from the Orin SoC family. The CPU is equipped with eight cores and 12 ARM Cortex-A78AE cores, while the GPU, built on NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, boasts 2048 CUDA cores. This advanced hardware is said to support Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction, which confirms the inclusion of hardware-based ray tracing capabilities.

However, according to previous reports, the console will not have native Frame Generation support. Developers might still integrate AMD FSR Frame Generation technology into some games for the platform, potentially combining it with DLSS Super Resolution to optimize performance.

DLSS Ray Reconstruction could be the Nintendo Switch 2’s standout feature compared to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X. Nevertheless, analysts believe the console will be significantly less powerful than even the Xbox Series S. Rumors suggest it may support a maximum resolution of 4K and run at 30 frames per second when docked. For Nintendo fans, this isn’t surprising, as the company’s last hardware-focused competitive console was the GameCube, which struggled to achieve commercial success.

The Switch 2 aims to replicate the successful hybrid model of its predecessor, offering seamless functionality as both a handheld and home console. The original Switch recently surpassed lifetime sales of Sony’s PlayStation 2 in the United States. While globally the PS2 remains ahead, Nintendo’s console is steadily closing the gap.

The frequency of recent leaks suggests an official announcement could be imminent. Rumors point to a potential unveiling on January 8, with accessories expected to hit the market by March 28. Gamers eagerly await confirmation of these details as anticipation continues to build.