Nintendo Switch 2: NVIDIA and Nintendo Unveil Custom Processor Advancements

NVIDIA and Nintendo have set the stage for the next generation of handheld gaming, announcing the upcoming release of Nintendo Switch 2 powered by a custom-designed processor.

This collaboration continues a longstanding partnership between the two tech giants, with NVIDIA’s advanced silicon propelling Nintendo's innovative hardware ambitions.

Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled for worldwide release on June 5, 2025, priced at £395.99 in the United Kingdom, €469.99 in Europe, and $449.99 in the United States. Reflecting on this significant achievement, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently shared insights into the collaborative process in a new Creator’s Voice Special Edition video.

He described the partnership with Nintendo as a source of immense pride for NVIDIA, highlighting a relationship that spans over ten years.

According to Huang, the teams are united by a shared commitment to leveraging technology in the pursuit of creativity and joy—principles core to both companies’ philosophies. Huang recalled a pivotal moment with the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.

He recounted Iwata's desire to develop a console that was uniquely powerful yet extremely portable, a vision that ultimately resulted in the original Nintendo Switch.

Huang noted that this undertaking required over 500 engineer years at NVIDIA and involved reimagining every aspect of the gaming hardware, from chip architecture and operating systems to the APIs and supporting game engines.

He emphasized that Iwata’s clarity and purpose continue to inspire both companies’ teams. The original Nintendo Switch has sold more than 150 million units worldwide, establishing itself as a platform that unites families, empowers independent developers, and reshapes conventional expectations of what a home console can deliver.

Huang views Nintendo Switch 2 as a bold extension of this legacy, representing the next chapter in handheld gaming history. At the heart of Switch 2 is what Huang described as a true technical marvel—a chip featuring unprecedented advancements for a portable device.

This custom processor boasts the most sophisticated graphics technology ever deployed in a mobile gaming platform, including full hardware-driven ray tracing and High Dynamic Range (HDR) for vivid visuals and stark contrasts.

The architecture supports backward compatibility, ensuring continued access to players’ existing libraries, and incorporates dedicated AI processors to enhance gameplay on the fly.

Despite these advancements, the chip is designed for ultra-low power consumption, optimized to deliver high performance in a sleek handheld form factor. Huang concluded by expressing NVIDIA’s honor in partnering with Nintendo on this journey and congratulated Nintendo’s team on this milestone.

He underscored that Nintendo Switch 2 stands as a testament to Iwata’s enduring vision—delivering performance, intelligence, and visual excellence in the palm of the player’s hand. With global anticipation mounting ahead of its June 2025 release, Nintendo Switch 2 is poised to set a new standard for portable gaming through the integration of NVIDIA’s custom processor and Nintendo’s industry-leading design.

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