The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be on par with the Steam Deck in terms of performance, according to Matthew Cassells from Alderon Games, who shared insights on the Broken Silicon podcast by Moore’s Law Is Dead.
Despite the potential hardware improvements, there are concerns that the software may limit the gaming handheld’s capabilities. This could affect how well the device performs overall, even if the hardware is powerful.
The original Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, has been showing its age, especially with the increasing demand for new games. The Switch 2 is anticipated to have much more capable hardware to keep up with modern gaming requirements. Matthew Cassells has suggested that while the hardware could rival that of the Steam Deck, the software may not fully take advantage of this increased power.
One of the main concerns is that the software might include security mechanisms and restrictions designed to prevent piracy, which could negatively impact the system’s performance. These limitations are common in consoles and can reduce the efficiency of the hardware. Additionally, there may be other software-related constraints that could further hinder the gaming experience on the Switch 2.
For example, the current Nintendo Switch restricts how much data games can write to the flash storage to prevent wear and tear, which can limit the performance of more demanding games. There’s also a limitation on patch sizes, making it difficult for developers to release updates that optimize game performance. These software limitations could continue to be an issue in the Switch 2, even with its improved hardware.
However, the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to come with 12 GB of RAM, a significant upgrade from the original Switch’s 4 GB. This increase in memory could help alleviate some of the performance bottlenecks seen in the current generation, particularly in resource-intensive games.
The jump from 4 GB to 8 GB on modded Switch consoles has already shown a noticeable performance boost, and the additional RAM in the Switch 2 could further enhance the gaming experience.
