Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has commended the Nintendo Switch 2, describing it as the realization of the vision held by the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. Iwata, who contributed to the original Switch concept before his passing in 2015, would have been proud of the new console.
In a Creator's Voice video published by Nintendo, Huang revealed his personal collaboration with Iwata on Nintendo's ambitious hybrid console—a device designed to deliver home-console gaming experiences on the go.
Having partnered with Nintendo once again to develop the chip for the Switch 2, Huang stated that the console delivers the "most advanced graphics ever seen in a mobile device" and represents "a new chapter worthy of Iwata-san’s vision."
"For over a decade, Nintendo and Nvidia have worked together guided by a shared belief—that technology should empower creativity, and that engineering joy is a worthy pursuit," Huang remarked.
"I vividly recall the day Iwata-san shared his dream with us. He envisioned a gaming device unlike any other—powerful enough for cinematic gameplay, yet portable enough to take anywhere. It seemed unattainable at the time, yet that vision gave birth to the original Nintendo Switch."
"Although we lost Iwata-san before the console launched, his clarity and purpose continue to inspire us every day," Huang reflected. "Together, we dedicated immense effort into the system. The Nintendo Switch required more than 500 engineer-years at Nvidia. We overhauled the entire stack—chip architecture, operating system, APIs, and game engines—so the magic could go wherever you go. The outcome is undeniable: over 150 million units sold worldwide."
With the Switch 2, Huang added, Nvidia and Nintendo have not only achieved the best visuals in portable gaming but also integrated ray tracing and HDR support. The console maintains backward compatibility with most original Switch games.
Nintendo has yet to disclose the full technical specifications of the Switch 2, though Digital Foundry recently conducted its own analysis. A notable concern is the resource demand of GameChat, which reportedly has a "significant impact" on system performance—raising concerns among some developers.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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"The Switch 2 is more than just a new console," Huang concluded. "It’s a new chapter that truly honors Iwata-san’s vision. To our friends at Nintendo—congratulations. We are honored to join you on this journey."
The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on Thursday, June 5, and is expected to sell out quickly. In fact, Nintendo has already begun distributing "Out of Stock" notices to retailers in anticipation of overwhelming demand.
IGN has gone hands-on with the Switch 2 and reports that Mario Kart World's open world differs from expectations—it's not a Nintendo take on Forza Horizon. We also tried the $10 mini-game collection Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour; while enjoyable, it likely should have been offered for free.
