Nintendo Switch is powered by NVIDIA

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Sweepr

Diamond Member
May 12, 2006
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Nintendo Switch is powered by a custom Tegra processor

Nintendo Switch is powered by the performance of the custom Tegra processor. The high-efficiency scalable processor includes an NVIDIA GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards.

The Nintendo Switch’s gaming experience is also supported by fully custom software, including a revamped physics engine, new libraries, advanced game tools and libraries. NVIDIA additionally created new gaming APIs to fully harness this performance. The newest API, NVN, was built specifically to bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses.

https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2016/10/20/nintendo-switch
 

antihelten

Golden Member
Feb 2, 2012
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Looks decent to me. The handheld mode is a bit larger than what I would have prefered, but that was probably an unavoidable compromise given the flexibility of the form factor.

I do have some doubts about the viability of using only a single controller in multiplayer mode, but again it's a question of compromise (and I assume you can pair multiple full controllers to it if you want)

The biggest question that remains is as mentioned 3rd party support, that will make or break this system


I'm starting to think that there is some real truth to this being a reworked shield portable. Apart from the detachable controllers, it very much looks like a merged version of the Shield portable and the Shield console.
 

Red Hawk

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2011
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Ok...I was skeptical about the rumors of Nintendo's next console being a home/handheld hybrid. Skeptical as in, skeptical that it was really a good idea. But I gotta hand it to Nintendo (and whoever directed this trailer). It looks soooooooo slick. I think I'm sold.
 

NTMBK

Lifer
Nov 14, 2011
10,409
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What a letdown ...

Seems like they didn't learn from the Wii U.

:(

I'd say the opposite, they learned that :

a) "Second screen" doesn't matter to people- they want it either on the TV, or on their handheld
b) The handheld screen needs to be able to be taken out of the house

Looks like a cool system. Congrats to NVidia on winning the spot- looking forward to learning more about the tech.
 

positivedoppler

Golden Member
Apr 30, 2012
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This is disappointing and good at the same time. Good if you already have a gameboy and are looking to upgrade. Disappointing because I doesn't have 4G Lte...probablybno touch screen either. I was really hoping this would double as a phone if needed
 

NTMBK

Lifer
Nov 14, 2011
10,409
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I was really hoping this would double as a phone if needed

Because that's worked so well in the past

talking-3.jpg
 
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antihelten

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Feb 2, 2012
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This is disappointing and good at the same time. Good if you already have a gameboy and are looking to upgrade. Disappointing because I doesn't have 4G Lte...probablybno touch screen either. I was really hoping this would double as a phone if needed

Lack of a modem is perhaps a bit of an issue, but I would argue that it's a marginal one, since it only really applies with regards to multiplayer, and even then it's only an issue if you don't have access to WiFi or a phone you can tether to (although the latter would possibly result in borderline unplayable latency).

I would be quite surprised if it doesn't have a touch screen seeing as it would seem like a bit of a no-brainer to have some way of interacting with the console when the controllers are detached. It's also worth noting that previous leaks have talked about the screen being a multi-touch touchscreen
 
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Red Hawk

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2011
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This is disappointing and good at the same time. Good if you already have a gameboy and are looking to upgrade. Disappointing because I doesn't have 4G Lte...probablybno touch screen either. I was really hoping this would double as a phone if needed

And what would be the point of that? I already have a phone.
 
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dacostafilipe

Senior member
Oct 10, 2013
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I'd say the opposite, they learned that :

a) "Second screen" doesn't matter to people- they want it either on the TV, or on their handheld
b) The handheld screen needs to be able to be taken out of the house

Okay, you have a point here.
 

Triloby

Senior member
Mar 18, 2016
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I gotta admit, the Switch actually looks good. It looks much better than I actually thought it would be.

I also gotta echo statements of the new Switch being the actual successor to the Shield tablet and console from Nvidia. Looks like Nvidia and Nintendo wanted the same thing, and they collaborated to make this instead of Nvidia releasing the Shield 2 or whatever by themselves. That said, I'm still skeptical on how good 3rd party support will be this time. But they did have a demo of Skyrim on there, so maybe they've learned their lesson this time around? I'm still taking the "wait and look" approach for this system.
 

antihelten

Golden Member
Feb 2, 2012
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I gotta admit, the Switch actually looks good. It looks much better than I actually thought it would be.

I also gotta echo statements of the new Switch being the actual successor to the Shield tablet and console from Nvidia. Looks like Nvidia and Nintendo wanted the same thing, and they collaborated to make this instead of Nvidia releasing the Shield 2 or whatever by themselves. That said, I'm still skeptical on how good 3rd party support will be this time. But they did have a demo of Skyrim on there, so maybe they've learned their lesson this time around? I'm still taking the "wait and look" approach for this system.

Regarding 3rd party support, Nintendo has announced that pretty much all of the big ones are on board (e.g. EA, Activision, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Warner Brothers etc). Of course them being on board and them taking the console seriously is not necessarily the same thing.
 

sxr7171

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2002
5,079
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I'm glad at least it isn't some dual screen gimmick at least. It's all ok at best. But that price. At $200 I'd get it. At $250 maybe. At $300 no way. The extras really add up on these things.

A buddy of mine who is a huge Nintendo fan just spent $400 on a PS VR. Even he would agree that $400 for a next generation experience is one thing but $400 for this is not cool.
 

sxr7171

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2002
5,079
40
91
I gotta admit, the Switch actually looks good. It looks much better than I actually thought it would be.

I also gotta echo statements of the new Switch being the actual successor to the Shield tablet and console from Nvidia. Looks like Nvidia and Nintendo wanted the same thing, and they collaborated to make this instead of Nvidia releasing the Shield 2 or whatever by themselves. That said, I'm still skeptical on how good 3rd party support will be this time. But they did have a demo of Skyrim on there, so maybe they've learned their lesson this time around? I'm still taking the "wait and look" approach for this system.

You would be wise to expect no 3rd party support. If you are lucky it may double as a Shield. Probably not though. Expect to buy this for first party only. Which means you'll be waiting for content. Capcom may throw you a bone maybe.
 

caswow

Senior member
Sep 18, 2013
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man i wonder if people will jump nvidia for "stifling the graphical advancement" just like they did with amd for ps4 and xbo :)
720p in 2017? yep looking good :D
 

DamZe

Member
May 18, 2016
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So it can play Skyrim a 2011 title? I need specs or else I am not impressed.
 

Azix

Golden Member
Apr 18, 2014
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its a tablet with a dock and controllers. You can do similar with a tablet and buy a controller, I like the package though. Should be a good experience as long as the battery life is good. Even better if it can act as a real tablet to reduce clutter. I don't see why they should pretend it's a home console. The biggest innovation here is playing the same games on the go as at home, but since its the same device its not exactly a big innovation.

So it can play Skyrim a 2011 title? I need specs or else I am not impressed.

from what I saw it looked like mobile phone level graphics +. noticeably better but still at that level.
 

nurturedhate

Golden Member
Aug 27, 2011
1,767
773
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Launch with Mario, Zelda, and a new splatoon game and it will sell well enough. That is a lot better than I had imagined
 

Triloby

Senior member
Mar 18, 2016
587
275
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Regarding 3rd party support, Nintendo has announced that pretty much all of the big ones are on board (e.g. EA, Activision, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Warner Brothers etc). Of course them being on board and them taking the console seriously is not necessarily the same thing.

Well, at least EA, Activision, or whoever hasn't made any statement that they will NOT support the Switch. I do recall either EA or Activision saying that they wouldn't support the Wii U when it was launched.

You would be wise to expect no 3rd party support. If you are lucky it may double as a Shield. Probably not though. Expect to buy this for first party only. Which means you'll be waiting for content. Capcom may throw you a bone maybe.

I really want Nintendo to prove me wrong here. But even I have my doubts that any third party devs they court for the Switch will actually stay around to make killer apps for their system.

The one thing that concerns me the most is the price. If the rumors are true about this Switch costing anywhere between $300 to $400, then they're gonna have a hard time selling them.
 

sxr7171

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2002
5,079
40
91
man i wonder if people will jump nvidia for "stifling the graphical advancement" just like they did with amd for ps4 and xbo :)
720p in 2017? yep looking good :D

It's a kiddie portable nobody will care. Also this company makes the Titan X. They just have a cheap partner. This thing was never meant to advance graphical science.