Facebook
Reddit
Email
DLSS is a game-changing technology for PC gaming, which is now included in the Switch 2. Will the new Nintendo handheld use it to reach 4K?
It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch 2 brings huge performance improvements over its predecessor, but features like DLSS upscaling have the potential to take performance even further. This technology is a game-changer in the PC gaming industry and has allowed users with lower-power PCs to run demanding games without any issues.
Although the Nintendo Switch 2 is a massive improvement over the original Switch, it is still not powerful enough to run games at 4K resolution, especially graphically demanding games. However, upscaling technologies like DLSS can help with that. It can render the game at a lower resolution and then upscale it to 4K for higher playable FPS. That’s a fantastic technology that can help games run at 4K on the new Switch 2 without destroying the framerate.
Nevertheless, the question is, will games use this DLSS technology? The short answer is yes, but there’s a lot more to it than just that. Read on to find out more.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer’s opinions.
Some Switch 2 Games Will DLSS for 4K in Docked Mode
The DLSS technology requires Tensor cores, which are built into the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware. Therefore, it can run quite well on this handheld console. However, whether a game will use DLSS or not is up to the game developers to decide. They can decide to use it to upscale a game to 4K resolution or even just 1080p.
Given that gaming 4K is a lot more demanding than 1080p, game developers are likely to utilize DLSS more aggressively for 4K than for other resolutions. Having said that, no game developer has confirmed whether their games will use DLSS to run at 4K resolution yet.
Will DLSS Help Games Achieve 4K60 on Docked Mode?
Playing at 4K60 is certainly quite ambitious for a tiny handheld console like the Switch 2, but it is achievable if the game is not too graphically demanding. If a game struggles to reach 60 FPS at 4K, and mostly stays within the 50 – 60 FPS range, then that’s where DLSS can be most useful.
However, some games may run at 4K60 natively without DLSS. For example, Nintendo has announced that Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Switch 2 Edition will run at 4K60 with HDR in docked mode, but the company didn’t mention whether it runs natively or uses DLSS to reach that.
Which Games Are Confirmed To Use DLSS?
Takuhiro Dohta, a Senior Director at Nintendo EPD, has confirmed that Donkey Kong Bananza will use DLSS when speaking to Nintendo Life but didn’t mention anything about the resolution. As of this writing, this is the only first-party game that has officially confirmed the use of DLSS.
Apart from that, one third-party title has also been officially confirmed to use DLSS, which is Cyberpunk 2077. It uses upscaling technology to output 1080p resolution only. This is a graphically intensive game, so you can’t expect it to run at 4K on Switch 2. Even PCs with huge GPUs struggle to run it at 4K, so it is understandable. We will provide an update when we have confirmation of more games using DLSS.
We provide the latest news and “How To’s” for Tech content. Meanwhile, you can check out the following articles related to PC GPUs, CPU and GPU comparisons, mobile phones, and more:
- 5 Best Air Coolers for CPUs in 2025
- ASUS TUF Gaming F16 Release Date, Specifications, Price, and More
- iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE (3rd Gen): Which One To Buy in 2025?
- Powerbeats Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 2: Which One To Get in 2025
- RTX 5070 Ti vs. RTX 4070 Super: Specs, Price and More Compared
- Windows 11: How To Disable Lock Screen Widgets
