Jensen Huang highlights groundbreaking NVIDIA custom SoC for Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo is preparing to launch its much-anticipated Switch 2 hybrid console tomorrow, June 5, and the company is intensifying enthusiasm by spotlighting its collaboration with NVIDIA through CEO Jensen Huang. In a move atypical for the usually secretive console market, Nintendo has engaged directly with the technical aspects of its latest device, discussing at length the custom Tegra ´T239´ chipset developed by NVIDIA. While this chip has seen several leaks and analyses in the tech community, Nintendo´s recent openness regarding hardware capabilities marks a notable shift from traditional pre-launch reticence. High-profile industry partners, such as CD Projekt RED, have joined Nintendo in the Creator´s Voice video series, but Huang´s personal message has drawn exceptional attention.

During the latest installment of the series, Huang reflected on the origins of the Nintendo-NVIDIA partnership, paying homage to late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. Huang described Iwata´s visionary intent to craft a console that blended powerful, cinematic gameplay experiences with the portability that defined the original Nintendo Switch. Despite the daunting technical challenges, the collaboration between the two companies materialized Iwata´s dream, establishing a new hybrid console standard. Although Iwata passed away prior to the Switch´s launch, Huang emphasized how his influence continues to drive innovation and ambition at NVIDIA.

Building on their legacy, NVIDIA has devoted extensive technical resources to the Switch 2´s custom processor, which Huang characterizes as a technical achievement unlike any previous effort from the company. This new system-on-chip (SoC) is designed specifically for Nintendo´s hybrid vision, optimizing power efficiency, performance, and advanced features such as ray tracing and upscaling, pushing console mobility without sacrificing modern graphical capabilities. The partnership underscores Nintendo´s strategy to stay competitive in an evolving console market, leveraging best-in-class silicon to meet the demands of cinematic gaming on the go while preserving the user-friendly charm that has defined the Switch family.