- A Nintendo patent could reveal some of the AI-enhancing technology that will power the Nintendo Switch 2
- Details a method to increase image quality using machine learning.
- The patent suggests this could be used to keep game file sizes down.
Another day, another big avalanche of potential information about the Nintendo Switch 2. This time we’ve learned more about the type of improved technology we could see implemented in the upcoming console.
The information comes from a patent filed by Nintendo in July 2023 and recently made public. The patent details a technology that is capable of “converting images from one resolution to another (for example, higher) and can be used in real-time applications from images generated, for example, by a video game engine.”
It is powered by machine learning algorithms and, in a nutshell, would allow a video game console like the Nintendo Switch 2 to increase the resolution of its image output with little additional hardware burden. Some examples of how it could be used are included in the patent, which describes how a 540p image could be upscaled to 1080p to “increase graphical fidelity.”
It may be tempting to assume that this means the Nintendo Switch 2 will target 1080p output, but it’s important to note that these examples are included for illustrative purposes only. The patent is also careful to clarify that “whenever 1080p is mentioned in connection with a target image, the techniques […] It can also be applied to 4K images.”
We also don’t know for sure if this technology will be implemented in Nintendo Switch 2, although of course it seems very likely given that the document focuses on video game applications.
Interestingly, the patent suggests that the technology could be used to keep game file sizes low “so that they fit on relatively smaller sized physical media.” This would be achieved, for example, by reducing the resolution of the textures downloaded by the player and then using AI upscaling technology to increase it to produce a final image.
It’s clear that AI enhancement technology is becoming an increasingly important part of the gaming landscape. Solutions like Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR are popular ways to improve PC gaming performance. The PS5 Pro recently shipped with Sony’s PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upgrade (PSSR). We’ll have to wait for the console’s official reveal to see if Nintendo will choose to do the same.
