Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently expressed admiration for the Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting that the upcoming console embodies the vision of the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. Iwata had been instrumental in shaping the concept for the original Switch before his passing in 2015.
In a Nintendo-published Creator's Voice video, Huang recalled working directly with Iwata on what was then a bold idea—a hybrid console capable of delivering home-console-quality gaming experiences on the go. Reflecting on the evolution of this dream into reality, Huang praised the new system as featuring "the most advanced graphics ever in a mobile device," calling it "a new chapter worthy of Iwata-san’s vision."
“We've worked with Nintendo for more than a decade, united by a shared belief—that technology should serve creativity, and that joy is worth engineering for,” Huang stated.
He continued, “I still remember the day Iwata-san shared his dream with us. He wanted to create something no one had seen before: a console powerful enough for big cinematic games, but small enough to take anywhere. It sounded impossible—but that vision became the original Nintendo Switch.”
Though Iwata passed away before seeing the original Switch launch, Huang noted that his clarity and purpose continue to influence their work today. The collaboration between Nvidia and Nintendo involved over 500 engineer years dedicated to rethinking the entire system stack—including chip architecture, operating systems, APIs, and game engines—resulting in a portable experience that has sold over 150 million units globally.
With the release of the Switch 2, Huang emphasized that the new hardware not only delivers the best visuals ever seen in a portable gaming device but also supports advanced features like ray tracing and HDR—all while maintaining compatibility with most original Switch titles.
While Nintendo has yet to officially disclose full technical specs for the Switch 2, reports from Digital Foundry have provided insight into its capabilities. One notable concern among developers relates to the impact of GameChat, which reportedly consumes significant system resources.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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“Switch 2 is more than a new console—it's a new chapter worthy of Iwata-san’s vision. To our friends at Nintendo, congratulations. We're honored to be on this journey with you,” Huang concluded.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launches this week on Thursday, June 5, and is already expected to sell out due to high demand. In fact, Nintendo is reportedly shipping “Out of Stock” signs to select retailers in anticipation of the overwhelming interest.
IGN has already tested the Switch 2 and reported that *Mario Kart World*’s open world may not meet all expectations—so don’t go in anticipating a Nintendo equivalent of *Forza Horizon*. Additionally, we’ve reviewed the $10 mini-game collection Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which, although fun, might have been better offered for free.
