A new Nintendo Switch 2 patent filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is giving clues regarding the upcoming console's upscaling capabilities. However, it is not your regular upscaling technology as Nintendo added AI resolution upscaling to the Switch 2 that will greatly help users, especially in handheld mode.
Its current generation console, the Switch, does not have upscaling technology for the handheld mode, and users can only maximize the video output quality when the console is docked as it can deliver 1080p resolution for players.
Nintendo Switch 2 AI Upscaling Revealed in Latest Patent
Mike Odyssey shared his discovery on X regarding the latest patent filed by Nintendo. According to Odyssey, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will feature AI resolution upscaling once it arrives, and it centers on improving the quality for users even in handheld mode.
Based on the patent filing by Nintendo, the company gave an example on how its AI upscaling would work and it could improve the on-screen resolution of a game from 540p resolution to 1080p quality. This is already a massive boost for the Nintendo Switch 2's gaming quality as AI upscaling was not heard of until now for the console, with the original Switch sticking to low-quality resolution in handheld mode.
However, based on the said patent filing, Nintendo will only go as far as to upscale it to 1080p resolution for users. Gamers who have the original Switch and are getting the Switch 2 will see significant differences from the old games as these are playable via its backward compatibility feature.
Essentially, this means that previous Switch games that maxed out at 540p on the handheld mode will get a resolution boost when played via the Switch 2.
What Else to Know
Switch 2's latest patent is a massive news for every fan out there as this has been one of the many requests gamers have made to Nintendo before. The AI upscaling capabilities of the Switch 2 also reportedly goes hand in hand with its bigger screen that overall improves the experience for users who have long complained about resolutions.
That being said, several users are asking why it is limited to 1080p upscaling only and not 4K video quality, which led to many questioning if the Switch 2's screen could only max out at full high definition (1920x1080p).
It remains unknown if Nintendo will ever bring 4K resolution to the Switch 2 when docked. However, many are hoping that the April Direct event will provide more official news about the upcoming console.
