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StarTopic Future Nintendo Hardware & Technology Speculation & Discussion |ST| (New Staff Post, Please read)

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Noleth said:
According to a reddit post, new patents have been discovered. Could these mean anything or dismiss them?


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Looks to me like one of likely many ideas they had to do a mid gen update. The one we got is the OLED Dock.
 
carbvan said:
image.png

I have created a monster
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I wouldn't be at all surprised if some prototype or document or something exists in Nintendo for something like this so 4 people could crowd around and play that big Pac Man game that's in every arcade together.
 
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lexony said:
Looks to me like one of likely many ideas they had to do a mid gen update. The one we got is the OLED Dock.
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Wdym "the one we got" was the OLED dock? The OLED dock is 2 sided, has no button, and functions the same as the base dock (you put it in facing towards you).
 
Serif said:
These were filed in 2016.
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And I also very much doubt Switch 2 is going to look too alike Switch 1.

Those drawings, even though there are some variations (like rod on back and a different dock) look too much like orig Switch.

I would think Nintendo/marketing wants to ensure Switch 2 has distinct looks that easily identifies itself separately from Switch 1. Despite keeping the hybrid form factor. How Nintendo/marketing decides on those points, I cannot wait to find out.
 
carbvan said:
Wdym "the one we got" was the OLED dock? The OLED dock is 2 sided, has no button, and functions the same as the base dock (you put it in facing towards you).
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No I mean the idea they went with. I guess they had at some point in Switch Life various ideas how to do a midgen refresh. Though this is very speculative. I mean the application was 2023.

Edit: Apparently already 2016. It‘s nothing.
 
Does anyone here know where the actual files from the Nvidia hack are? I know they've already been thoroughly picked through, I just want to have them for posterity's sake.
 
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lexony said:
No I mean the idea they went with. I guess they had at some point in Switch Life various ideas how to do a midgen refresh. Though this is very speculative. I mean the application was 2023.
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The first filing was like in 2017 (assuming you're talking about the "found patent" that shows rod in back and a different dock)
 
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The next console needs to be backward compatible solely because otherwise I'll have to start fearing for my launch Switch's very mortality.
 
seyfeselassie said:
Click to expand...

Machine translation:

Necrolipe's tweet message: "Famous rumor that brings a warm feeling to Nintendo's hearts and a hint of hope..."

And the article:

"One of the topics of greatest doubt among current Nintendo consumers and even enthusiasts curious about their next hardware is the question of compatibility with current Nintendo Switch games on this new console.

Awaited as a potential 2024 release by Nintendo, the next system could come with the encouraging news that it will feature this physical (in cartridges) and digital backward compatibility not only available to players and producers — but would also allow developers to study improvements for the current titles in the Nintendo Switch library.

This information was shared by PH Brazil during the most recent episode of the podcast for the Pokémon franchise as traditionally happens every year.

PH Brazil is currently a content creator and also a games journalist who has already brought a lot of information about Nintendo's or partners' movements in advance and with precision in the past. Taking its history into account, there is a high chance that this information will become fact when the console is announced.

Nintendo does not comment on rumors and there is no announcement regarding the new hardware so far.

Stay tuned for more news!"
 
Was expecting backwards compatibility

Was not expecting it to run any better than just maxing out whatever FPS/resolution was possible in the original release. Would be great if it could go further
 
darthdiablo said:
Machine translation:

Necrolipe's tweet message: "Famous rumor that brings a warm feeling to Nintendo's hearts and a hint of hope..."

And the article:

"One of the topics of greatest doubt among current Nintendo consumers and even enthusiasts curious about their next hardware is the question of compatibility with current Nintendo Switch games on this new console.

Awaited as a potential 2024 release by Nintendo, the next system could come with the encouraging news that it will feature this physical (in cartridges) and digital backward compatibility not only available to players and producers — but would also allow developers to study improvements for the current titles in the Nintendo Switch library.

This information was shared by PH Brazil during the most recent episode of the podcast for the Pokémon franchise as traditionally happens every year.

PH Brazil is currently a content creator and also a games journalist who has already brought a lot of information about Nintendo's or partners' movements in advance and with precision in the past. Taking its history into account, there is a high chance that this information will become fact when the console is announced.

Nintendo does not comment on rumors and there is no announcement regarding the new hardware so far.

Stay tuned for more news!"
Click to expand...
I've never heard of PH Brazil until now, does anyone know of any examples of them having an accurate track record?
 
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darthdiablo said:
Machine translation:

Necrolipe's tweet message: "Famous rumor that brings a warm feeling to Nintendo's hearts and a hint of hope..."

And the article:

"One of the topics of greatest doubt among current Nintendo consumers and even enthusiasts curious about their next hardware is the question of compatibility with current Nintendo Switch games on this new console.

Awaited as a potential 2024 release by Nintendo, the next system could come with the encouraging news that it will feature this physical (in cartridges) and digital backward compatibility not only available to players and producers — but would also allow developers to study improvements for the current titles in the Nintendo Switch library.

This information was shared by PH Brazil during the most recent episode of the podcast for the Pokémon franchise as traditionally happens every year.

PH Brazil is currently a content creator and also a games journalist who has already brought a lot of information about Nintendo's or partners' movements in advance and with precision in the past. Taking its history into account, there is a high chance that this information will become fact when the console is announced.

Nintendo does not comment on rumors and there is no announcement regarding the new hardware so far.

Stay tuned for more news!"
Click to expand...
Stuff we've "safely" concluded until now being corroborated is a wonderful feeling!

Our hunches on the "data" patch type and expanded hardware targets for the operating system seem to be crystallising, and I'm here for it. Long live the next gen patch. Long live single-SKU cross-gen!
 
darthdiablo said:
Machine translation:

Necrolipe's tweet message: "Famous rumor that brings a warm feeling to Nintendo's hearts and a hint of hope..."

And the article:

"One of the topics of greatest doubt among current Nintendo consumers and even enthusiasts curious about their next hardware is the question of compatibility with current Nintendo Switch games on this new console.

Awaited as a potential 2024 release by Nintendo, the next system could come with the encouraging news that it will feature this physical (in cartridges) and digital backward compatibility not only available to players and producers — but would also allow developers to study improvements for the current titles in the Nintendo Switch library.

This information was shared by PH Brazil during the most recent episode of the podcast for the Pokémon franchise as traditionally happens every year.

PH Brazil is currently a content creator and also a games journalist who has already brought a lot of information about Nintendo's or partners' movements in advance and with precision in the past. Taking its history into account, there is a high chance that this information will become fact when the console is announced.

Nintendo does not comment on rumors and there is no announcement regarding the new hardware so far.

Stay tuned for more news!"
Click to expand...

Nate commented as well over on Era.

Back-compat is present to partners & testing is underway.

The major unknown seems to be the extent any such enhancements may provide.
Click to expand...

www.resetera.com

Universal Nintendo': Switch 2 will feature physical and digital backwards capability, devs have access to enhance Switch 1 games Rumor - Nintendo

Back-compat is present to partners & testing is underway. The major unknown seems to be the extent any such enhancements may provide.
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com
 
Concernt said:
You don't need to have a separate SKU to do a "port" to introduce DLSS. The size of a patch needed to "port" the whole game isn't reinstalling the game in every case, but just 1GB or less to replace the executable with a Switch 2 native compiled version.
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You're right that They could technically do that, but I really don't think They will.
I expect that Next gen patches, aside from the natural faster loading times that will automatically come from the much faster CPU/RAM/Storage, will only improve resolution and framerates and nothing else. Maybe some very small stuff like draw distances, but nothing more than that.

Adding significant improvements like adding DLSS to the rendering pipeline and recompiling a native Switch 2 executable takes a lot more resources and time than simple next gen patches that increase resolution and framerates, which take only 1 dev no more than a day of work.
This is good because even smaller/older games like Tropical Freeze, Pikmin 3 and 4, Metroid Dread/Prime, the Bayonetta trilogy, the Kirby games and so on, have a good chance at receiving improvements that would otherwise never receive.
Then there are games like MK8 and Ultimate, which have a sequels coming in the near future and Nintendo would not only not want to waste any resources on them but also They also wouldn't want them steal attention and compete with said sequels.

Basically what I generally expect to happen is that every game that can reach 4k60fps (games that run at least at 900p/1080p 60fps on the Switch 1) will receive a patch to run at 4k60fps, while every other game will receive a patch to run at either 1440p 60fps or 4k 30fps. And also 1080p 60fps in portable mode should be doable for the vast majority of the Switch library.

The only 2 games that I can see receiving the real next gen port premium treatment are BOTW and TOTK since the next Zelda isn't coming before holidays 2027 at the earliest and those games have a lot that can be improved considering they are also running at 900p 30fps with performance issues.
 
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GPKs3 said:
Nate commented as well over on Era.



www.resetera.com

Universal Nintendo': Switch 2 will feature physical and digital backwards capability, devs have access to enhance Switch 1 games Rumor - Nintendo

Back-compat is present to partners & testing is underway. The major unknown seems to be the extent any such enhancements may provide.
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com
Click to expand...
Unless Nintendo specifically blocks it, it should be the case that developers can establish a seperate patch channel to distribute next gen only updates to keep the enhancements updated, and that developers can modify their game in any way they see fit, subject to approval. Unless Nintendo policy specifically disallows it(which I doubt), this means developers should be allowed to rip out the Switch 1 compiled code and replace the executable, whole cloth, with a Switch 2 version, even if it uses the same assets. Furthermore, additional assets like new textures, should definitely be allowed in a patch approval process. As such, unless Nintendo has intentionally placed policy limitations on them, next gen patches should be able to be anything from simple performance bumps to complete, next gen re-writes, depending on what the developer wants to do.
 
Lugia667 said:
I imagine the NSO apps will transfer over as well? I doubt they wanna start all over again at this pont
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While they haven't specifically said anything about Switch 2, they've been pretty clear about Nintendo account content and subscriptions carrying over from device to device.

Because of NSO being called "NSO", I also think it's beyond all reasonable doubt that the next generation is still branded Switch; and in all likelihood, the one after that, and so on.
 
darthdiablo said:
Machine translation:

Necrolipe's tweet message: "Famous rumor that brings a warm feeling to Nintendo's hearts and a hint of hope..."

And the article:

"One of the topics of greatest doubt among current Nintendo consumers and even enthusiasts curious about their next hardware is the question of compatibility with current Nintendo Switch games on this new console.

Awaited as a potential 2024 release by Nintendo, the next system could come with the encouraging news that it will feature this physical (in cartridges) and digital backward compatibility not only available to players and producers — but would also allow developers to study improvements for the current titles in the Nintendo Switch library.

This information was shared by PH Brazil during the most recent episode of the podcast for the Pokémon franchise as traditionally happens every year.

PH Brazil is currently a content creator and also a games journalist who has already brought a lot of information about Nintendo's or partners' movements in advance and with precision in the past. Taking its history into account, there is a high chance that this information will become fact when the console is announced.

Nintendo does not comment on rumors and there is no announcement regarding the new hardware so far.

Stay tuned for more news!"
Click to expand...
GPKs3 said:
Nate commented as well over on Era.



www.resetera.com

Universal Nintendo': Switch 2 will feature physical and digital backwards capability, devs have access to enhance Switch 1 games Rumor - Nintendo

Back-compat is present to partners & testing is underway. The major unknown seems to be the extent any such enhancements may provide.
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com
Click to expand...
Another thing that can be added and @necrolipe commented is that there's 3P games that are being developed with Switch 2 in mind but are cross-gen and will have a Switch 1 version due to the latter massive install base. Some of these are supposed to be showed in this week partners. Upcoming weeks are going to be very interesting.
zumaddy said:
Don't know much about PH Brazil but sounds promising!
Click to expand...
He was a journo at one of Brazil biggest gaming outlets. And also used to be an Era mod. Definitely someone in the knows.
 
Lugia667 said:
I imagine the NSO apps will transfer over as well? I doubt they wanna start all over again at this pont
Click to expand...
How would 'starting over' work? There's still NSO games on the roadmap like F Zero GBA that haven't been released yet. NSO accounts are being carried over.
 
HankyPanky said:
with backward compatibility being tied to the OS more folk getting wind of functionality must mean mass production is close. ie a final OS needs to be flashed onto systems when it hits production lines.
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I don't think you're off base there, though I'm fairly sure it'll be the same operating system. They've been tipping away at adding support for next gen hardware for years ar this point.
 
HankyPanky said:
with backward compatibility being tied to the OS more folk getting wind of functionality must mean mass production is close. ie a final OS needs to be flashed onto systems when it hits production lines.
Click to expand...
I mean, if it's getting revealed in March then mp will start late this month/early next.
They'll want to reveal it before major leaks come out from production lines.
 
epicmartin7 said:
Curious how backwards compatibility could be done. My bet is GPU emulation, but we shall see.
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It would almost have to. CPU instructions are natively supported, so that isn't the issue. My bet is Nvidia worked with Nintendo to create a compatibility layer for Drake that translates Maxwell GPU instructions to something that Ampere understands. Whether that only means direct compatibility, meaning no graphical or performance improvements, or acts like an overclocked Switch 1 is another question entirely.

EDIT: I'm sure there would be several other things baked into a compatibility layer that would help Switch 1 titles work on NG Switch besides just GPU related stuff.
 
So does the presence of a physical card slot for full BC for Switch games tell us anything about the I/O? Does sticking with that card slot size somehow limit the read speeds we could see?
 
GPKs3 said:
Nate commented as well over on Era.



www.resetera.com

Universal Nintendo': Switch 2 will feature physical and digital backwards capability, devs have access to enhance Switch 1 games Rumor - Nintendo

Back-compat is present to partners & testing is underway. The major unknown seems to be the extent any such enhancements may provide.
www.resetera.com www.resetera.com
Click to expand...

I won’t lie, even knowing that it wouldn’t really have made any sense for BC to not be a feature, it’s still a relief to finally hear word from insiders that it will be there. I’m not even super fussed about enhancements as long as I can play my Switch library.
 
Sol said:
So does the presence of a physical card slot for full BC for Switch games tell us anything about the I/O? Does sticking with that card slot size somehow limit the read speeds we could see?
Click to expand...
microSD cards all come in the same form, but vary in speed. It doesn’t matter
 
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YoboD said:
I won’t lie, even knowing that it wouldn’t really have made any sense for BC to not be a feature, it’s still a relief to finally hear word from insiders that it will be there. I’m not even super fussed about enhancements as long as I can play my Switch library.
Click to expand...
Same. Just allow me to play my Switch 1 software on 2. Enhancements would certainly be great, but I don't need it.
 
Ghostsonplanets said:
Another thing that can be added and @necrolipe commented is that there's 3P games that are being developed with Switch 2 in mind but are cross-gen and will have a Switch 1 version due to the latter massive install base. Some of these are supposed to be showed in this week partners. Upcoming weeks are going to be very interesting.
Click to expand...
I just can think of any game fits the description. Not late ports but developed from scratch? And have a Switch1 version? Could be Visions of Mana.
 
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