Support NeoGAF

[Dacvak]

You mentioned that new technology is used to achieve compatibility, but are there situations where playing Switch games on Switch 2 will enhance the gameplay experience?
Dohta: When we tried running Switch games on Switch 2, there were some where loading times became faster, or game performance became more stable, so we realized that the overall gameplay experience could improve. And as mentioned previously, GameChat will also be available for Switch games that are played on Switch 2. Even for previously released games, there are opportunities to add value in the sense that it can enhance and change the gameplay experience. We understand that people buy new hardware so they can play new games created for it, so we've developed Switch 2 with that in mind.
However, it's safe to say that Switch 2 is a system with new strengths in the sense that it adds value to Switch games that players already own. We'll take advantage of those strengths in the future to further enhance the gameplay experience of Switch games.
We believe there are many things we can do, such as making Switch games compatible with GameShare through free updates, as well as leveraging Switch 2's processing power to enable games to run in higher resolution and with a smoother frame rate.

In the developer interview on Nintendo’s site, the hardware developers talk about how they were able to achieve backwards compatibility with Switch 1 games.

As stated above, some games in their testing had faster loading times, and more stable performance. This implies that games with an uncapped or unstable framerate may automatically play better and faster without even needing an update!

I think we were all hoping for this, since games like Bayonetta 3, Hyrule Warriors, and so many others run at uncapped or unstable framerates. And games like Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, which hotswap between 30 and 60fps, are likely to lock in at 60fps on Switch 2.

Another interesting note in the interview is that they’re actually achieving full backwards compatibility using a software compatibility layer. This isn’t a surprise to anyone who’s studied the T239, but compared to the X1 in the OG Switch, the chips are obviously very different.

In past Nintendo consoles/handhelds, backwards compatibility has always been achieved by literally including the previous platform’s chipset within. The DS had a GBA chipset within, the 3DS had a DS chipset, the Wii U had the Wii’s, etc. This marks the first time that Nintendo achieved backwards compatibility without including the physical hardware of the previous console.

It’s worth noting that they had to test over 10,000 games to ensure compatibility, but have stated that it’s possible a few games might not run perfectly at launch. (I’m guessing more obscure 3rd-party and indie games that they weren’t able to put through the full paces.)

Additionally, because Switch 1 games are played using a comparability layer on the Switch 2’s chipset, this means that GameChat will automatically work with ALL Switch 1 games. They also stated that GameShare will be able to be easily added to Switch 1 games as well, though it’ll require those games to be updated in some way.

Pretty interesting stuff. It’s nice to get at least a soft confirmation that Switch 1 games will be automatically enhanced on Switch 2, even without having a “Switch 2 Edition” upgrade.

 

[kpopSuperstar]

Yeah, the Switch 2 Editions are the ones who had notable work done on them, but a lot of other games will get free updates, like Echoes of Wisdom.

 

[Woopah]

Yep, basically any title with just a resolution/framerate boost is free. If the Switch 2 version also contains extra content, then you have to pay.

 

[Dacvak]

Yeah, the Switch 2 Editions are the ones who had notable work done on them, but a lot of other games will get free updates, like Echoes of Wisdom.

What they’re implying is that those games won’t even need free updates. They’ll be enhanced right out the gate.

 

[kevboard]

yeah no shit.

as I mentioned in another thread, it would be basically impossible to make Switch 1 games backwards compatible without enhancing performance.

they can't limit the Switch 2 hardware to Switch 1 levels while playing Switch 1 games. so every game should automatically run at the max target resolution and framerate.

Bayonetta 3 as an example runs at a dynamic 816p but can drop to a 576p while also having tons of framerate drops.
on Switch 2 the game will probably run at a locked 816p 60fps just due to the new hardware

 

[GigaBowser]

switch 2 4k 60fps miyazaki beast ahah

 

[Skifi28]

Obviously, anything without a locked framerate before and dynamic resolution will be better.

 

[nordique]

yeah no shit.

as I mentioned in another thread, it would be basically impossible to make Switch 1 games backwards compatible without enhancing performance.

they can't limit the Switch 2 hardware to Switch 1 levels while playing Switch 1 games. so every game should automatically run at the max target resolution and framerate

Would be nice if performance is at least switch 1 “docked” mode when in switch 2 handheld mode

 

[kevboard]

Would be nice if performance is at least switch 1 “docked” mode when in switch 2 handheld mode

that would be cool yeah. I wonder if they will do that. maybe there is a technical reason not to do that, but I can't think of one... maybe some games need to get a signal that they are in handheld mode to unlock certain features, like touch screen inputs and stuff like that.

this could of course be fixed by having a toggle that you can manually switch from docked to handheld mode for back compat games

 

[QLQ]

"We understand that people buy new hardware so they can play new games created for it, so we've developed Switch 2 with that in mind"

Like 4 new games in the whole 1 hour show...

 

[March Climber]

 

[RoadHazard]

yeah no shit.

as I mentioned in another thread, it would be basically impossible to make Switch 1 games backwards compatible without enhancing performance.

they can't limit the Switch 2 hardware to Switch 1 levels while playing Switch 1 games. so every game should automatically run at the max target resolution and framerate.

Bayonetta 3 as an example runs at a dynamic 816p but can drop to a 576p while also having tons of framerate drops.
on Switch 2 the game will probably run at a locked 816p 60fps just due to the new hardware

I mean, they could downclock (like the Wii when running GCN games). But I don't know why they would do that.

 

[kevboard]

I mean, they could downclock (like the Wii when running GCN games). But I don't know why they would do that.

even if they did that, the Switch 2 has about 1200 more cuda cores compared to the Switch 1. running a game on a 1536 cuda core GPU at the same clock speed as on a 265 cuda core GPU would still result in a ridiculous performance boost.

 

[RoadHazard]

even if they did that, the Switch 2 has about 1200 more cuda cores compared to the Switch 1. running a game on a 1536 cuda core GPU at the same clock speed as on a 265 cuda core GPU would still result in a ridiculous performance boost.

Would a game written for the original Switch automatically take advantage of the additional cores though? I don't think that's necessarily a given just because that's how it works on PC.

 

[Kataploom]

Would a game written for the original Switch automatically take advantage of the additional cores though? I don't think that's necessarily a given just because that's how it works on PC.

On PC multi-core development works by delegating instructions to core using "jobs" or other design pattern that basically automate the distribution, if I'm not mistaken, so the code will always adapt to hardware, but in Switch it's more like you always have 3 cores and don't have to have such overengineered solution since it's more simple and deterministic (maybe I'm wrong... hell most probably I am lol), but even if devs manually tweaked performance to run on 3 cores, each core is just on a whole other league and would be enough to give the game great performance boost even without needing a patch.

 

[kevboard]

Would a game written for the original Switch automatically take advantage of the additional cores though? I don't think that's necessarily a given just because that's how it works on PC.

they should use them all. games will use all the GPU hardware they have access to.
Nintendo would essentially need to shut off 1200 cuda cores or manually limit games by partitioning them off in a VM that is only allowed to use 265 cores.

this would probably be more work for them to do compared to just letting them use all cores.

 

[Hookshot]

Be nice if this was true but I'll need to see someone stick Age of Calamity into a Switch 2 and it not run like crap before I think it is.

 

[daxgame]

Good news because with these prices my sw2 new software will be cherry picked.

 

[Shaki12345]

Maybe they can now patch Witcher 3 to run at 900p/60. That game sold very well on Switch.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

wow. Nintendo always innovating

 

[Kataploom]

Maybe they can now patch Witcher 3 to run at 900p/60. That game sold very well on Switch.

They should be able to run TW3 in 1440p at 60 fps with better than PS4 graphical settings very comfortably... If even go as far as making it 1080p with RT.

I'm basing this in widely known specs.

 

[balls of snow]

Oh with ninty I cant take that at face value.

 

[RoadHazard]

they should use them all. games will use all the GPU hardware they have access to.
Nintendo would essentially need to shut off 1200 cuda cores or manually limit games by partitioning them off in a VM that is only allowed to use 265 cores.

this would probably be more work for them to do compared to just letting them use all cores.

I think that depends on how this software compatibility layer they're using works. Maybe it actually limits the active core count when in Switch mode, and the performance boosts they're seeing would then just be due to the higher clocks and faster memory and storage. That's pretty much exactly how BC works on PlayStation.

That might not be the case here, I'm just saying we don't know.

 

[Trunx81]

You say I can finally play my hentai puzzle collection in a stable framerate? SOLD!

 

[Mephisto40]

So 2 out of it's catalogue of 10 games that are worth playing then

 

[Thief1987]

Nintendo innovations, hopefully others will follow the suit

 

[Warspite]

So we have another category of Switch 1 game on Switch 2.

We have games like Kirby that have improvements plus DLC for $20, we have games with improvements plus some extras for $10, some games will just get patches for free and NOW some games will just work better.

 

[Baemono]

I’m guessing more obscure 3rd-party and indie games that they weren’t able to put through the full paces.

You'd be surprised, Doom 2016, Doom Eternal and Wolfenstein II are on the list

 

[Robb]

I’ll be interested to see how Bayonetta 3 runs on it. I’ve yet to play through that.

 

[Madserb2023]

They should be able to run TW3 in 1440p at 60 fps with better than PS4 graphical settings very comfortably... If even go as far as making it 1080p with RT.

I'm basing this in widely known specs.

 

[Baemono]

Maybe they can now patch Witcher 3 to run at 900p/60. That game sold very well on Switch.

CDPR likes to make available free patches for their games so I can def see a Switch 2 patch