Nintendo is reportedly planning to adopt an upgraded Nvidia chip, offering better graphics and processing, for a new Switch model scheduled for release at the end of the year.
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The new Switch model will support Deep Learning Super Sampling , or DLSS , a new rendering technology that uses artificial intelligence to deliver higher-fidelity graphics. This will allow the console, which will feature an upgraded OLED display, to play games in 4K visual quality when connected to a TV.
The new chip will also offer a better CPU and increased memory. DLSS support will require adding new code to games, so it will be used primarily to improve graphics in upcoming titles. Bloomberg News previously reported that the new Switch is likely to include a 7-inch OLED screen from Samsung Display Co. and it is possible that the company will combine the launch of the new console with a slew of new games.
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At the moment, Nvidia and Nintendo have not commented on the rumors about the new console.
While there are no new Nintendo Switch game titles scheduled for release in the last half of the year, the company announced Tuesday a new partnership with Niantic Inc. for augmented reality smartphone apps, which will launch with a Pikmin app later this year.
Analysts expect the new Switch to be available at a higher price than the current model's $299, which has not changed since the Switch's initial launch in 2017. Bloomberg Intelligence 's Matthew Kanterman predicts an increase of up to $100.
DLSS was first introduced as an image enhancement feature in 2018 and remains exclusive to Nvidia graphics cards. It's an unusual addition for Nintendo, which tends to opt for more mature and lower-cost technology than rivals Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. The new Switch model will continue to lag behind its more expensive rivals in overall performance capabilities.
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As Nintendo senior executive Ko Shiota: “What we value is how much a new technology contributes to the entertainment experience and how comfortably a consumer can play.”
