Speculation about a possible new Nintendo console — dubbed Switch Pro/2 — has been ongoing since 2019. However, a recent rumor has provided some insight into the technology that powers the new device.
Korean gaming insider OreXda has contributed to the speculation with a leak suggesting the new Nintendo hardware will use a new NVIDIA Tegra chip built with Samsung’s 5nm 5LPP technology.
The move to 5nm technology aligns with rumors of Nintendo canceling a mid-generation Switch Pro and instead focusing on a next-generation console. As such, it would make sense for the company to enhance the capabilities of the silicon powering the machine.
Another NVIDIA Tegra for Nintendo Switch will manufactured from 5LPP.
I will keep uploading this info in Twitter as soon as i can.
— Connor / 코너 / コナー (@OreXda) March 21, 2023
This contradicts earlier rumors that the upcoming Nintendo console would be powered by a new NVIDIA Tegra chip based on Ampere architecture, which uses TSMC 7nm or Samsung 8nm process technology.
Per reports, the NVIDIA Tegra Orin chip is significantly more potent than the current chip used in the Nintendo Switch.
The Orin chip is built on the Ampere architecture and comes with a GPU with 2,048 CUDA Cores and a CPU with 12 ARM Cortex-A78AE cores. Since the upcoming console will supposedly use a modified version of this chip, the specs may differ.
OreXda has a good track record with past tech leaks. If the rumor is also true, the unconfirmed Nintendo Switch successor will offer improved performance compared to the current console.
However, fans should expect a minor evolution of the current Nintendo Switch rather than a significant leap forward. The improvement will not be as substantial as the transition from the WiiU to the Switch, and the NVIDIA Tegra processor may still be somewhat outdated and inferior to the technology used in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
Nevertheless, this rumored processor would still be an upgrade over previous rumors about the Nintendo Switch successor’s specifications.
Suppose they have shifted to 5nm technology; the new Tegra chip is undoubtedly more modern, energy-efficient and potentially more potent than the previously speculated chip.
Ultimately, fans can only speculate until Nintendo releases an official announcement regarding the new Switch.
Current Switch still popular
In an interview with The Associated Press on March 13, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said, “We feel very confident that the Switch can have a strong performance over the next few years.”
During the interview, Bowser discussed the growing popularity of video games, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the industry’s significant growth in recent years and shared plans for upcoming Nintendo attractions.
“As we enter the seventh year for the Nintendo Switch, sales are still strong. I think we still have a very very strong lineup coming,” said Bowser when asked about the release date of the next Switch.
“As Mr. Furukawa (Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa) said recently, we’re entering uncharted territory with the platform. It’s exciting to see that demand is still there. So nothing to announce on any future console or device, but we are still feeling very bullish about Nintendo Switch.”
The Nintendo Switch’s ability to function as both a home and portable console is expected to sustain its popularity for several years.
This belief is supported by recent hit titles like Metroid Prime 4 and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and upcoming releases, including Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
