Nintendo has filed a patent detailing its plans to use upscaling technology to fit high-resolution game textures onto physical cartridges. The technology, similar to Nvidia’s DLSS and PlayStation 5 Pro’s PSSR, uses AI to upscale images, reducing the size of games that would otherwise require large 4K-native assets.
According to the patent, this means smaller game sizes can be stored on moderately-sized media, allowing for more efficient downloads. For example, a game with native 4K textures might need a 60GB download, but an equivalent 1080p version could be as small as 20GB.
As more leaks surface about the Switch 2’s internal components, these developments suggest that Nintendo is working towards reducing the size of its next-gen consoles. The patent was published in July 2023 and reveals a significant advantage: allowing games to fit on smaller cartridges without compromising on graphics quality.
Source: https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-upscaling-patent-spotted-as-more-switch-2-component-photos-appear-to-leak