Over the past few weeks, whispers about the Nintendo Switch 2 have escalated into full-blown leaks, revealing significant details about the new console. We now have glimpses of its design, including the dock and Joy-Con, as well as its motherboard. All signs point to an imminent unveiling, possibly in January, as earlier rumors suggested. Adding to the speculation is a new clue emerging from the CES 2025 in Las Vegas.
Will Nintendo Switch 2 be at CES 2025?
The latest information leak comes from Genki, a manufacturer of gaming accessories. Genki will be present at CES, taking place from January 7-10, and has shared its program for the event. Notably, during their panel on January 7, Genki plans to discuss the products they’re developing for the Switch 2 and any information they may have about the console.
While their announcement remains cautiously worded, the timing aligns with circulating rumors of a Switch 2 presentation in early January. This raises the possibility that Nintendo’s embargo on information about the next-gen console may lift around this date, allowing Genki to freely discuss what would otherwise be sensitive topics.
Accessory manufacturers, such as DBrand, have shown little restraint in recent months, sharing images of covers and grips that heavily hint at the Switch 2’s design. These leaks have added fuel to the fire, with some rumors suggesting January 8 as the date to mark on calendars for a potential announcement.
Further speculation indicates a launch date for the Nintendo Switch 2 on March 28. If this proves true, January would indeed be a strategic time to kickstart the marketing campaign. Nintendo is known for keeping fans on their toes, often announcing their Direct presentations with as little as 24 hours’ notice. However, with the leaks growing increasingly uncontrollable, it seems likely that January will be the month when the floodgates finally open.
Nintendo Switch 2: what we know so far
Photos of the motherboard reveal an SoC built on an 8nm process and a revamped RAM configuration. This suggests a significant leap in power and performance compared to the original Switch, aligning with expectations for a next-gen console.
Recent leaks have provided even more details about the Switch 2’s technical capabilities. Images purportedly showing the motherboard reveal 12GB of RAM, distributed across two 6GB modules, which represents a substantial upgrade from the original Switch. The SoC appears to be a custom Nvidia chip, likely built on the Orin architecture, featuring eight Cortex-A78/AE/C cores and a GPU with 2048 CUDA cores based on the Ampere architecture. This configuration supports advanced features like Ray Tracing and DLSS 2.2, thanks to 64 Tensor Cores.
While exact performance benchmarks remain speculative, analysts estimate the Switch 2’s power to be slightly above the PS4, approaching PS4 Pro levels when docked, thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. The GPU’s raw performance is estimated between 2 and 3 TFLOPS, a marked improvement over the aging Tegra X1 chip used in the original Switch, which had a GPU with just 256 CUDA cores.
This generational leap would bring features like Mesh Shaders and support for 4K resolution, enhancing the gaming experience significantly. Although the 8nm process may seem dated compared to cutting-edge 4nm chips, Nintendo’s strategy has always balanced cost efficiency with performance. First-party titles are expected to shine on this hardware, but there are questions about how third-party developers will optimize their games for the platform.
