A bit bit extra to share: When Nintendo unveiled the Change 2, it was imprecise concerning the chip powering the machine, solely mentioning that it was a customized design from Nvidia. No technical specs have been supplied – simply normal info like assist for as much as 120fps on-device, 4K at 60fps, VRR, and comparable options. Fortuitously, Nvidia has since shed a bit extra gentle on the topic.
Nvidia lately posted a weblog highlighting options of the {hardware} powering the Change 2, going past what Nintendo initially shared. Amongst these options is assist for ray tracing.
Whereas ray tracing can be out there on different consoles, it took a while for builders to begin utilizing it. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Cyberpunk 2077 have been among the many first titles to implement ray tracing on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X. In line with The Shortcut, as of January, the variety of PS5 video games with ray tracing assist had grown to 58. Nonetheless, a few of these solely provide ray tracing on the PS5 Professional.
Whereas ray tracing can be out there on different consoles, it took some time for builders to begin truly utilizing it. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Cyberpunk 2077 have been among the many first titles to implement ray tracing on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X. In line with The Shortcut, as of January, the variety of PS5 video games with ray tracing assist has grown to 58. Nonetheless, a few of these solely provide ray tracing on the PS5 Professional.
One other bragging proper Nintendo can declare is DLSS assist, now a mainstay for desktop gaming. AMD’s platform-agnostic various, FidelityFX Tremendous Decision (FSR), has lately trickled into gaming laptops, consoles, and handheld PCs. Each applied sciences improve picture high quality whereas sustaining efficiency, however the Change 2 is the primary gaming handheld to supply Nvidia’s arguably superior DLSS. Because of its Tensor Cores, Nvidia claims Nintendo’s hybrid console delivers 10 instances the graphical efficiency of the unique Change.
All of this seems to be nice on paper, however this is the rub: it is in the end as much as builders to implement these applied sciences. We should not anticipate widespread adoption instantly. It took time for builders to prioritize ray tracing and DLSS on the PS5 and Xbox Sequence X. Rockstar, for instance, did not add ray tracing to GTA V till 2022 – two years after these consoles launched. Given the Change 2’s smaller display screen and handheld focus, adoption might take even longer right here.
Even with its elevated decision when docked to a TV, the Change 2 remains to be closely marketed as a handheld machine. Its 8-inch, 1080p show operating at 120fps is greater than satisfactory for handheld use, so builders might not really feel an pressing must combine DLSS or ray tracing in new releases or patches – not less than not instantly. Nvidia hasn’t talked about any particular video games presently in improvement that can showcase both know-how.
The extra urgent considerations across the Change 2 are its worth level and the price of its video games.
At $450 for what remains to be sub-console efficiency, many present Change homeowners are taking a tough move on the upgraded mannequin. Nintendo’s new $70 to $80 pricing technique for each new and remastered titles has additionally raised eyebrows amongst followers. Whereas the Change 2 is clearly a succesful handheld, it would not fairly measure as much as house consoles – besides with regards to worth.
