A Nintendo Switch 2 development expert has revealed that the upcoming console’s GPU performance is close to Xbox Series S levels, while its CPU matches PlayStation 4 capabilities. Eoin O’Grady from Black Shamrock (Virtuos subsidiary) shared these performance insights in a July 2025 interview.
Nintendo Switch 2 GPU Rivals Xbox Series S, CPU Matches PS4 Performance
The technical director confirmed that games running at 60 frames per second on Xbox Series S should easily port to Nintendo Switch 2, with GPU performance sitting slightly below Series S levels. The performance gap becomes more noticeable in handheld mode compared to docked gaming.
| Performance Metric | Nintendo Switch 2 | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Performance | Close to Xbox Series S | Slightly below when docked |
| CPU Performance | PlayStation 4 level | Comparable processing power |
| 60fps Gaming | Xbox Series S ports | “Shouldn’t be hard” to achieve |
| Handheld Mode | Reduced performance | More noticeable GPU difference |
Technical Specifications Overview
The Switch 2 features a custom NVIDIA T239 processor with eight ARM Cortex A78 CPU cores, offering approximately 1.72 teraflops of graphical performance. Previous leaks suggest the system includes 64KB of L1 instruction cache and 64KB of L1 data cache per core.
Clock speeds reach different levels depending on the gaming mode, with the system optimizing performance between handheld and docked configurations to maintain consistent gaming experiences across both modes.
Port Compatibility and Gaming Performance
According to O’Grady, any game running at 60 frames per second on Xbox Series S should easily transition to Nintendo Switch 2. This compatibility opens possibilities for enhanced ports of current-generation titles, bridging the performance gap between Nintendo’s portable system and Microsoft’s entry-level console.
The CPU performance matching PS4 levels means developers can expect similar processing capabilities for AI, physics, and game logic compared to Sony’s previous-generation console.
DLSS and Ray Tracing Capabilities
The Switch 2 reportedly includes DLSS support and ray tracing capabilities, potentially offering more advanced visual features than Xbox Series S in certain scenarios. However, implementing these features requires additional development effort from studios.
These AI-enhanced technologies could help bridge performance gaps, allowing the Switch 2 to punch above its weight class in visual fidelity and frame rate performance.
FAQs
How does Nintendo Switch 2 GPU compare to Xbox Series S?
The Switch 2’s GPU performs close to Xbox Series S levels, with slightly lower performance that’s more noticeable in handheld mode.
Can Switch 2 run Xbox Series S games at 60fps?
Yes, according to developers, games running at 60fps on Xbox Series S should easily port to Nintendo Switch 2.
