Nintendo has confirmed a few of its Switch 2 recreation sizes, and, fortunately, they’re comparatively small.
The Japanese My Nintendo Retailer lists a variety of Switch 2 video games alongside their file sizes.
The Nintendo Switch 2 options 256 GB of inner storage, which is a important improve on the 32 GB accessible on the OG Switch and Switch Lite and the 64 GB on the Switch – OLED Mannequin.
One other massive distinction is that the Switch 2 requires microSD Categorical playing cards for as much as 2 TB of additional storage, that means the microSDXC playing cards the present Switch fashions assist can’t switch over to the new console.
However, primarily based on the file sizes revealed on the Japanese retailer, that 256 GB of inner storage ought to hold most gamers going for a whereas.
Nintendo Switch 2 recreation storage sizes:
The most important file measurement right here is, as you’d count on, Mario Kart World, however at 23.4 GB it solely takes up round 10% of the Switch 2’s complete inner storage.
Mario Kart World is comparatively slim in comparison with the beefy Cyberpunk 2077, which weighs in at 64 GB on Nintendo Switch 2. That is a chunky 25% of the Switch 2’s inner storage.
Nintendo additionally not too long ago confirmed that a number of new Switch 2 recreation playing cards gained’t all the time carry an precise recreation, however as a substitute include a key for a recreation obtain. This is not the case for Cyberpunk 2077, although.
For context, certainly one of the largest video games on the unique Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, was simply 16 GB.
It’s value noting that the GameCube app’s measurement is anticipated to develop as new video games are added to the library. At launch, the GameCube app comprises The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur 2.
So, how is the Nintendo Switch 2 in a position to get away with comparatively small recreation sizes whereas providing as much as 4K decision?
In January, the web noticed a Nintendo patent, filed July 2023 however printed for the first time earlier this 12 months, that described AI picture upscaling expertise that will assist hold online game obtain sizes sufficiently small to suit on a bodily recreation cartridge whereas providing as much as 4K textures. It was thought at the time that this utilized to the Nintendo Switch 2, and may relate to Nvidia DLSS graphics expertise.
Nvidia DLSS (Deep Studying Tremendous Sampling) is an AI-powered expertise that makes use of machine studying to upscale lower-resolution photos in real-time, enhancing each efficiency and picture high quality in video games.
This week, in the wake of the Nintendo Direct, Nintendo and Nvidia confirmed the Switch 2’s customized GPU allows AI upscaling through DLSS and ray tracing.
Nvidia described it as a “customized Nvidia processor that includes an Nvidia GPU with devoted RT Cores and Tensor Cores for gorgeous visuals and AI-driven enhancements.”
These upgrades embrace as much as 4K gaming in TV mode and as much as 120 FPS at 1080p in handheld mode. Nintendo Switch 2 additionally helps HDR, and AI upscaling “to sharpen visuals and easy gameplay.”
The brand new RT Cores carry real-time ray tracing, delivering “lifelike lighting, reflections and shadows for extra immersive worlds,” Nvidia continued.
Tensor Cores, in the meantime, energy AI-driven options like DLSS, “boosting decision for sharper particulars with out sacrificing picture high quality.”
Particulars are skinny on the floor, nevertheless. In a hardware-focused roundtable Q&A in New York this week, attended by IGN, Nintendo representatives confirmed the Switch 2 makes use of DLSS, however didn’t specify which model of the tech, or whether or not it had been custom-made for Switch 2. It was a equally imprecise response when Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2’s GPU is able to ray tracing.
And what about the GPU itself? Tetsuya Sasaki, Common Supervisor at Nintendo’s Expertise Growth Division, and Senior Director at its Expertise Growth Division, chimed in to say Nintendo prefers to not get in the weeds on issues like the GPU.
“Nintendo does not share an excessive amount of on the {hardware} spec,” he stated. “What we actually prefer to concentrate on is the worth that we will present to our shoppers. However I do consider that our accomplice Nvidia might be sharing some info.”
For extra, take a look at every part introduced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, and what the consultants must say about the Switch 2 worth and Mario Kart World’s $80 price ticket.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.