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

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sir_bumble_bee said:
The Xbox One S ticks all the same boxes as the Switch and Microsoft still included 4K output for media content.
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MS and Sony have had different aims than Nintendo for a long time, though. Both wanting to appeal to the high tech crowd and be the Everything Box for people gave things like that higher priority. Versus Switch where Netflix couldn't even be bothered to show up.
 
Serif said:
Do you mean having a post-processing upscaler built into the dock chipset? I suppose that's possible, but I'd question how well it would work and if it would add input-lag. Since it's disconnected from the GPU this upscaler would just process the entire image it receives - including text and 2D elements, so it might not produce a favorable upscale for all kinds of content e.g. if the dock used a lanczos sharpening solution or forced AA on the picture, it would ruin pixel art games.
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Thing is: it would still be better then upscalers in cheaper 4k TVs for years. Far from optimal. But for example most TVs don't even allow you to switch to nearest neighbor to keep the image from getting blurry. (1080p output scaled to 4k would compare to the image output on an native 1080p screen). If the upscaler, even a simple one, would have been in the dock the options could just have been in the TV menu of the switch, it's nothing more complex then limited/full or selecting 720/1080 output.

Serif said:
I always assumed Nintendo tested leaving the 4K output enabled and saw that it negatively impacted performance in comparison to 1080p output, since spatial upscaling to 4K still takes resources, and it wasn't worth it vs. leaving it at 1080p and relying on TV upscaling. I think it would've been more feasible with the OLED - but at that point, I imagine they wanted to have 4K as a shiny marketing bullet point for Switch 2.
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I assume they tested it. Not sure if most really basic upscalers would have had that impact, but well never know.
They for sure wanted to keep 4k for the marketing.
 
JoshuaJSlone said:
MS and Sony have had different aims than Nintendo for a long time, though. Both wanting to appeal to the high tech crowd and be the Everything Box for people gave things like that higher priority. Versus Switch where Netflix couldn't even be bothered to show up.
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I agree! And it's because of that difference in philosophy that I believe any "optional" display features (various implementations of HDR, VRR, and 120Hz) that are either standard or at least finding themselves in more affordable displays are not a given to be supported by the Switch 2, even if it technically makes sense. I also believe the exclusion of those features will come back to bite Nintendo in the butt in three years when these display features are included in bottom of the barrel TVs.

I'm personally expecting a 1080p 60Hz LCD display with a display output of 4K 60Hz with no extra thrills. Anything more would be a surprise. I just can't imagine a 1st party Nintendo game allowing me to adjust HDR settings lol
 
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JoshuaJSlone said:
MS and Sony have had different aims than Nintendo for a long time, though. Both wanting to appeal to the high tech crowd and be the Everything Box for people gave things like that higher priority. Versus Switch where Netflix couldn't even be bothered to show up.
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I'd simplify it even more to why the XBox was a thing in the first place. Microsoft wanted to be the default device hooked up to every TV. So did Sony. Much to their disappointment the TV is no longer the default screen. The smartphone is. I'm really truly surprised that MS doubled down on gaming a couple of years ago.
 
sir_bumble_bee said:
I agree! And it's because of that difference in philosophy that I believe any "optional" display features (various implementations of HDR, VRR, and 120Hz) that are either standard or at least finding themselves in more affordable displays are not a given to be supported by the Switch 2, even if it technically makes sense. I also believe the exclusion of those features will come back to bite Nintendo in the butt in three years when these display features are included in bottom of the barrel TVs.
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I don't really understand where this kind of framing is coming from, it's not like having a "difference in philosophy" is all that weird or incomprehensible.

My main concerns over 120hz support are twofold: I don't want Nintendo using "40 FPS is good enough" as an excuse to forego 60 FPS in the next Splatoon/2D Mario/what have you, and I'm also concerned about the inability to have all three of 4K/HDR/120 FPS without compression.
 
I know these two things are not necessarily related, but I would find it odd for Nintendo to support microSD Express - a standard that doesn't yet have a mass market usecase and barely exists - but not HDR - something the hardware and graphics API support and is ubiquitous in screens and across gaming hardware.
 
For TV mode I would 100% settle for 1080/120/40 being a rare target for performance modes. Which should be doable even on HDMI 1.4, and I think 2.0 should be fine with HDR?

I'd of course prefer 1080/60 over 40 but there may be some cases where that isn't viable for very intensive games.

That doubled frame time makes an enormous difference. The 1440/30 will likely be a target for upscaled and intensive games. And the visual drop from 1440 to 1080 is very noticeable. But I would take the 1080/40 most of the time if it were available compared to 1440/30.

I think there is zero chance equivalent games to switch 1 wont still have 60fps modes. Even if quality modes are offered at 30/40. Like Kart/Splatoon. etc 40 will not replace 60, it will replace (or be an alt option) to 30.

I think HDR is very likely in TV and also pretty likely in handheld.

I don't really expect vrr, as great as it would be, perhaps even in TV mode. As for handheld---welp, I'd really love 40 there too but am less hopeful. I don't think framerates being different from handheld to TV really matter given Mario Odyssey happened. I really would prefer they support as many TV options as possible even if handheld doesn't support it.

In a perfect world a few 4k/1440-40fps modes with upscaling would be very nice. But yeah that requires 4k/120 and hdr at the same time I think?
 
Hello famiboards members. It's been a while since last I checked, I hope you're all well.

Today I come in with a few inquiries:

First of all, I think by now it is confirmed that the Switch 2 will support Micro SD cards. My question is:

Do we know what speeds will the device support? Or is it still on speculation realm? What information do we have as of right now.

The second question I have comes from the upscaling patent news I saw yesterday or so, it seems Nintendo will do it's own upscaling techniques just like PS5 Pro is using it's own.

My question is: How would these techs impact the Switch 1 games on the newer system? Will games get the benefit outright or will devs need to go back to the games and do some work for the tech to improve these NS1 games?

One reason for this question is that today I tried the Atelier Yumia demo on Switch and being honest, it was kinda rough, playable but admittedly devs put a lot of work and cut a lot of corners to make the game run.

The opinions and feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
 
I think 120hz is out of the question if it can't natively operate in the 4K setting without compression. Ideally I'd like a 60hz VRR HDR portable screen, and for the docked mode to follow suit on those features. I would really stop missing OLED then.
 
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Serif said:
I know these two things are not necessarily related, but I would find it odd for Nintendo to support microSD Express - a standard that doesn't yet have a mass market usecase and barely exists - but not HDR - something the hardware and graphics API support and is ubiquitous in screens and across gaming hardware.
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You just can’t use common logic like that for Nintendo. You just can’t. Also, there was a user in her that stated ( they aren’t an insider) but the screen would be VRR 120hz screen. He heard from someone. I know that doesn’t hold merit. I will say look like the majority of screen for gaming handhelds being released in 2025 are 120 VRR screens. Only thing I guess for switch 2 is they had the design pal ed out years previous. I think it would be a great surprise if we get that with HDR. All of that though might push this to $450. Unless Nintendo do got a great deal from Samsung or are willing to take a loss at launch. If not I can see the mid gen upgrade being OLED VRR 120hz screen.
 
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Softy said:
...I forgot are you in industry or are you reminding us that some nintendo games have had hdr options already
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I'm reminding folks that HDR support leaked years ago, as Serif points out here
Serif said:
I know these two things are not necessarily related, but I would find it odd for Nintendo to support microSD Express - a standard that doesn't yet have a mass market usecase and barely exists - but not HDR - something the hardware and graphics API support and is ubiquitous in screens and across gaming hardware.
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I don't know if Nintendo plans on using HDR/WCG in their games, but HDR support was one of those things that came out of the Lapsus$ hack years ago. To @Concernt's point, I don't know if it will be game level or system level for calibration, and as I've said before, I'm not convinced that Nintendo will give us HDR on the built-in screen. But @sir_bumble_bee was saying that they didn't expect any frills beyond a basic 4k60 in docked mode. I was just saying, expect more.

And along the lines of expectations...

grobla123 said:
I don't really expect vrr, as great as it would be, perhaps even in TV mode.
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...Nvidia has their own proprietary VRR tech called G-SYNC, and G-SYNC support also came out of the Lapsus$ hack. I dunno if other VRR tech will be supported, and again, I'm dubious about it hitting the built-in screen. But we should assume that, at least in Docked mode, that Nintendo will support all the features of a modern TV. It'll just be up to developers to actually use it.
 
Forget all the 4K, 120hz support, or VRR even.

What I want to know is if Nintendo will be the first platform to actually support Ultrawide 21:9.

It is highly likely to be wishful thinking, but damn if that would be so cool to implement.
 
NinGamer64 said:
Easy answer: no
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Nintendo, be our lord and savior!!!
 
Just a note about VRR. Just because a display/device supports it doesn't mean it can effectively work from 1hz to the upper limit. They typically have a range, with most having a low-bound of 48hz, though I think Xbox supports as low as 40hz. Anything lower, and VRR is pretty much turned off.
 
lunanto said:
Name 2 games (1st party and 3rd party) to be technical showpieces at the upcoming Direct.
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1st: Mario Kart/The Next Mario Platformer (which I REALLY hope is Super Mario Galaxy 3 :eek:)

3rd: I actually have no idea what the big third party titles are even present at the moment, but I'd say whatever big Capcom game is there
 
Shoulder said:
Forget all the 4K, 120hz support, or VRR even.

What I want to know is if Nintendo will be the first platform to actually support Ultrawide 21:9.

It is highly likely to be wishful thinking, but damn if that would be so cool to implement.
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Even on the PC market the ultra wide trend faded and while there still are some, it's not relevant market size I guess. Especially since... It's something the DEVS have to think of. (What's in the picture (framing), where is the UI)

Oh, and with oleds ultra wide kinda starts to be pointless if I can buy a c3/C4 in 48 and just have a black bar above to get the same feel if I want to play something in ultra wide. (You do miss the curve, but curved monitors also fell out of fashion)
 
gabeplays said:
I'll dream lol.

I mean it, sincerely. I don't understand why people think Sony games can't ever come to other consoles. Both God of War's, both Spider-Man's, RDR2, the Horizon games, and other Sony titles are on Steam. It's a pretty safe bet that the FF7 Remake games will come on Switch 2, not to mention MGS: Delta. When money talks and bs walks, where is the line?

We'll see, but RDR2, Baldur's Gate 3, Eldin Ring, and every noteworthy third-party game of the last decade or so has/should be on the Switch 2.
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Sony games (Aside from deals like destiny and lego horizon) wont come to Xbox or Switch in their current incarnations because it negatively effects the Playstation business. Playstations exclusive games are their USP.
I think Eventually this will change because Valve and Microsoft will effectively make PCs which function like a console, thus making living room gaming hardware so convoluted, accessible and cross platform, that the idea of a similar closed garden proprietary console will simply be an inferior product, because it wont be able to compete in game library and store choice. The only advantage future closed garden playstation consoles will have is good value hardware and be the only place to play Playstation exclusives Day 1.
 
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m under the impression that so far no trusted source’s confirmed the use of Hall effect sticks in Switch 2. (NextHandheld is a good photo source, but I don’t consider their claims trustworthy.) It just came to my attention there are rumors of Hall effect stick circulating in Taiwan. After some digging, I think I found the origin of said rumors:

Anue Ju Heng
Major-Power Technology Co. has been collaborating with Nintendo licensee(s), and delivering samples for verification. It is expected that Major-Power will supply to more peripheral licensees, and even aim at [Nintendo] in the future.
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NOWnews
It is rumored in the industry that Major-Power has successfully entered the Nintendo licensee supply chain, and completed sample verification. The shipment is expected to start in the second quarter, which may become a new growth driver for revenue. In addition to the Switch 2, Major-Power will continue to expand to other peripheral licensees, and even compete for orders from Nintendo.
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Notes:
  • Hall effect ICs is one of the product lines that Major-Power produces.
  • Both reports claimed that the company will be supplying Hall effect ICs to one or more Nintendo accessory licensees (whether singular or plural is often unclear in Chinese).
  • In the US market, there are three licensed controller brands—Hori, PDP, and PowerA. AFAIK, none of them uses Hall effect sticks, despite their unlicensed competitors doing so.
  • If one or more licensed peripheral makers are finally adopting the Hall effect stick, does it indicate that Nintendo’s genuine Switch 2 controllers are too?
  • It’s worth repeating that business reporting in Taiwan is lightly regulated, and many local financial articles smell like stock pumping pieces.
  • Case in point, neither article named the rumor’s source. The claim of Switch 2 using Hall effect sticks (not in the above quotes but elsewhere in the reports) also seems to be an extrapolation from the licensee’s procurement, not based on any concrete intel.
I’d categorize this rumor as an interesting tidbit. Even if true, it doesn’t really confirm what stick Switch 2 uses.
 
fwd-bwd said:
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m under the impression that so far no trusted source’s confirmed the use of Hall effect sticks in Switch 2. (NextHandheld is a good photo source, but I don’t consider their claims trustworthy.) It just came to my attention there are rumors of Hall effect stick circulating in Taiwan. After some digging, I think I found the origin of said rumors:

Anue Ju Heng


NOWnews


Notes:
  • Hall effect ICs is one of the product lines that Major-Power produces.
  • Both reports claimed that the company will be supplying Hall effect ICs to one or more Nintendo accessory licensees (whether singular or plural is often unclear in Chinese).
  • In the US market, there are three licensed controller brands—Hori, PDP, and PowerA. AFAIK, none of them uses Hall effect sticks, despite their unlicensed competitors doing so.
  • If one or more licensed peripheral makers are finally adopting the Hall effect stick, does it indicate that Nintendo’s genuine Switch 2 controllers are too?
  • It’s worth repeating that business reporting in Taiwan is lightly regulated, and many local financial articles smell like stock pumping pieces.
  • Case in point, neither article named the rumor’s source. The claim of Switch 2 using Hall effect sticks (not in the above quotes but elsewhere in the reports) also seems to be an extrapolation from the licensee’s procurement, not based on any concrete intel.
I’d categorize this rumor as an interesting tidbit. Even if true, it doesn’t really confirm what stick Switch 2 uses.
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Hmm. I got a bit excited about any hall effect mention, I'm not going to lie :) I don't think there's been any concrete news on the HE front, you're correct. but yeah this smells like a nothingburger.
 
fwd-bwd said:
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m under the impression that so far no trusted source’s confirmed the use of Hall effect sticks in Switch 2. (NextHandheld is a good photo source, but I don’t consider their claims trustworthy.) It just came to my attention there are rumors of Hall effect stick circulating in Taiwan. After some digging, I think I found the origin of said rumors:

Anue Ju Heng


NOWnews


Notes:
  • Hall effect ICs is one of the product lines that Major-Power produces.
  • Both reports claimed that the company will be supplying Hall effect ICs to one or more Nintendo accessory licensees (whether singular or plural is often unclear in Chinese).
  • In the US market, there are three licensed controller brands—Hori, PDP, and PowerA. AFAIK, none of them uses Hall effect sticks, despite their unlicensed competitors doing so.
  • If one or more licensed peripheral makers are finally adopting the Hall effect stick, does it indicate that Nintendo’s genuine Switch 2 controllers are too?
  • It’s worth repeating that business reporting in Taiwan is lightly regulated, and many local financial articles smell like stock pumping pieces.
  • Case in point, neither article named the rumor’s source. The claim of Switch 2 using Hall effect sticks (not in the above quotes but elsewhere in the reports) also seems to be an extrapolation from the licensee’s procurement, not based on any concrete intel.
I’d categorize this rumor as an interesting tidbit. Even if true, it doesn’t really confirm what stick Switch 2 uses.
Click to expand...

Nope, there's been nothing, but the Switch 2 trailer had that one moment of the stick rotating around. It might be a nothing burger, but hopefully it's a sign of stronger sticks.
 
fwd-bwd said:
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m under the impression that so far no trusted source’s confirmed the use of Hall effect sticks in Switch 2. (NextHandheld is a good photo source, but I don’t consider their claims trustworthy.) It just came to my attention there are rumors of Hall effect stick circulating in Taiwan. After some digging, I think I found the origin of said rumors:

Anue Ju Heng


NOWnews


Notes:
  • Hall effect ICs is one of the product lines that Major-Power produces.
  • Both reports claimed that the company will be supplying Hall effect ICs to one or more Nintendo accessory licensees (whether singular or plural is often unclear in Chinese).
  • In the US market, there are three licensed controller brands—Hori, PDP, and PowerA. AFAIK, none of them uses Hall effect sticks, despite their unlicensed competitors doing so.
  • If one or more licensed peripheral makers are finally adopting the Hall effect stick, does it indicate that Nintendo’s genuine Switch 2 controllers are too?
  • It’s worth repeating that business reporting in Taiwan is lightly regulated, and many local financial articles smell like stock pumping pieces.
  • Case in point, neither article named the rumor’s source. The claim of Switch 2 using Hall effect sticks (not in the above quotes but elsewhere in the reports) also seems to be an extrapolation from the licensee’s procurement, not based on any concrete intel.
I’d categorize this rumor as an interesting tidbit. Even if true, it doesn’t really confirm what stick Switch 2 uses.
Click to expand...
We also got a presentations from one of the manufacturer partner that worked on things like the Alarmo WiFi sensor that in the same presentation also showed that they are going to produced Magnetic Joystick (and the picture looked like a joycon joystick)
 
gabeplays said:
Nope, there's been nothing, but the Switch 2 trailer had that one moment of the stick rotating around. It might be a nothing burger, but hopefully it's a sign of stronger sticks.
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With the Mouse-Con being shown

I think the Joy-Con rotating means something, probably improved build and Hal effect
 
Steve said:
With the Mouse-Con being shown

I think the Joy-Con rotating means something, probably improved build and Hal effect
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I think the very least we can expect is improved build, and less drift (if its not eliminated completely).

There are also some alternate solutions Nintendo has patented, that would be a Nintendo specific solution (not hall effect). It was discussed earlier.
 
Hermii said:
I think the very least we can expect is improved build, and less drift (if its not eliminated completely).

There are also some alternate solutions Nintendo has patented, that would be a Nintendo specific solution (not hall effect). It was discussed earlier.
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Capacitive pressure sensitive analogue sticks being a possible implementation of their existing patents would be so tragically great. All my hope for capacitive pressure sensitive L and R, and it all went on better sticks.

I'd not even complain.
 
oldpuck said:
...Nvidia has their own proprietary VRR tech called G-SYNC, and G-SYNC support also came out of the Lapsus$ hack. I dunno if other VRR tech will be supported, and again, I'm dubious about it hitting the built-in screen. But we should assume that, at least in Docked mode, that Nintendo will support all the features of a modern TV. It'll just be up to developers to actually use it.
Click to expand...
Assuming TV mode does have VRR support, I expect VRR support to come from HDMI 2.1 rather than from G-Sync.
 
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