The tech experts at Digital Foundry have recently unveiled the final tech specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, along with concerns about the impact of its new GameChat feature on system performance. During last month's Nintendo Direct, the company introduced the Switch 2's GameChat functionality, which is activated by pressing the C button on the new Joy-Con controllers.

This innovative feature allows players to watch each other play the same or different games and even see each other with the help of a camera. The built-in microphone ensures clear communication regardless of the gaming environment. The C button's chat menu is designed to be a comprehensive multiplayer tool, potentially marking Nintendo's most significant online initiative in years.

Digital Foundry reports that Nintendo offers developers a GameChat testing tool that simulates API latency and L3 cache misses, allowing them to assess the feature's impact without needing active GameChat sessions. This suggests that GameChat could affect system performance, prompting questions about whether it impacts game performance when enabled or disabled. As Digital Foundry notes, "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 won't be clear until the Switch 2's release on June 5.

In addition to GameChat, Digital Foundry has revealed the Switch 2's final tech specs. The console has a Memory System Reservation of 3GB, leaving 9GB available for games. This is a significant shift from the original Switch, which had a 0.8GB Memory System Reservation and 3.2GB available for games. Like other consoles, the Switch 2 reserves some GPU resources for system use, not fully accessible to developers.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

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The Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen capable of 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, a substantial upgrade from the original Switch's 6.2-inch, the Switch OLED's 7-inch, and the Switch Lite's 5.5-inch screens. It also supports HDR10 and VRR up to 120 Hz, allowing games to reach 120fps when conditions permit.

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