The tech experts at Digital Foundry have unveiled the final tech specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, and with it, they've highlighted a significant concern regarding the GameChat feature's impact on system resources. According to Digital Foundry, developers are expressing concerns over the resource demands of GameChat, which was introduced during last month's Nintendo Direct. This feature can be activated by pressing the C button on the new Joy-Con controllers, allowing players to engage in multiplayer activities seamlessly.

With GameChat, players can not only communicate but also watch each other play, whether they're diving into the same game or exploring different titles. The integration of a camera and a reliable built-in microphone enhances this feature, making it easy for players to connect regardless of their gaming environment. The C button's chat menu is designed to be a comprehensive multiplayer hub, potentially marking Nintendo's most ambitious online initiative in years.

Digital Foundry reports that Nintendo provides developers with a GameChat testing tool. This tool simulates the API latency and L3 cache misses that the actual GameChat system imposes on the console, allowing developers to test the feature's impact without needing live GameChat sessions. This raises questions about whether GameChat affects game performance for end users. If GameChat's resource usage is within the system's allocation, it should theoretically not impact performance. However, the availability of emulation tools suggests there may indeed be a performance hit that developers need to account for.

As Digital Foundry noted, "We'll be interested to see how GameChat may (or may not) impact game performance as this does seem to be an area of developer concern." The true impact will only become clear when the Switch 2 launches on June 5.

In addition to the GameChat feature, Digital Foundry has detailed the final tech specs of the Nintendo Switch 2. The console reserves 3GB of memory for the system, leaving 9GB available for games. This is a notable shift from the original Switch, which had a 0.8GB system reservation and 3.2GB for games. Like all consoles, the Switch 2's developers do not have access to the full GPU resources, with some reserved by the system.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

View 91 Images

The Switch 2 boasts a 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen capable of outputting at 1080p (1920x1080), a significant upgrade from the 6.2-inch screen of the original Switch, the 7-inch screen of the Switch OLED, and the 5.5-inch screen of the Switch Lite. Furthermore, it supports HDR10 and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz, enabling games to reach 120fps when both the game and the player's setup support it.

When docked, the Switch 2 can play games at 4K resolution (3840x2160) at 60fps, or at 1080p/1440p (1920x1080/2560x1440) at 120fps. These enhanced graphics capabilities are driven by a "custom processor made by NVIDIA." For a deeper dive into the specifications, Digital Foundry's detailed analysis is highly recommended.