Switch 2 runs Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS in gaming first

Nintendo‘s upcoming Switch 2 will leverage Nvidia‘s DLSS technology to run demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, representing a significant technical achievement for the portable console. CD Projekt Red has officially confirmed that its blockbuster RPG will be the first Switch 2 title to utilize this AI-powered upscaling technology, allowing the game to run at respectable frame rates without sacrificing visual quality. This implementation demonstrates how machine learning is becoming essential for pushing graphical boundaries on hardware with inherent power limitations.

How DLSS works: Deep Learning Super Sampling uses AI to intelligently upscale games from lower resolutions to higher ones without the substantial performance hit of native high-resolution rendering.

• Unlike traditional upscaling, DLSS employs neural networks that analyze previous frames and motion data to more effectively reconstruct a higher-resolution image.
• This technology allows developers to run games at lower base resolutions (like 720p or 1080p) while delivering output that appears much closer to native 4K quality.

The Cyberpunk implementation: CD Projekt Red has confirmed to Digital Foundry that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will utilize DLSS across all play modes on Switch 2.

• “We’re using a version of DLSS available for Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, powered by Nvidia’s Tensor cores,” the developer explained, confirming the game will employ the technology in both docked and handheld modes.
• The game will offer both Quality and Performance options, with docked Performance mode reaching 40fps and handheld Performance mode running at 720p/40fps.

The hardware advantage: Switch 2’s custom Nvidia processor includes dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores specifically designed to enable these advanced features.

• Nvidia recently confirmed that these specialized cores bring “real-time ray tracing, delivering lifelike lighting, reflections and shadows for more immersive worlds.”
• The inclusion of Tensor Cores specifically enables AI-driven features like DLSS that can significantly improve visual fidelity without overwhelming the system’s processing capabilities.

Why this matters: The confirmation that Switch 2 can run a notoriously demanding game like Cyberpunk 2077 with its Phantom Liberty expansion suggests Nintendo’s new hardware represents a substantial leap over its predecessor.

• While the Switch 2 version won’t match PlayStation 5 quality, the fact that it can run the game at all—and at reasonable frame rates—indicates Nintendo is closing the performance gap with more powerful home consoles.
• This implementation provides a real-world example of how AI technology is enabling new possibilities in gaming hardware that would be unattainable through traditional rendering techniques alone.