Based on my previous predictions about what the “NX” could
be like, we can see how they would apply now that we know what the Nintendo
Switch really is. Games are already scaling their power and performance based
on whether they are being played in docked or portable mode. The issue now is
that they are not scaling enough.
Both the Nintendo Switch console and the dock could to be
upgraded in order to provide enough enhancements for consumers to see
significant improvements when switching from playing in portable mode to
playing in docked mode. Nintendo could release a hardware revision using the
Tegra X2 chip along with an upgrade from 4 to 8 Gigs of RAM for the Switch
console. Along with that, they could also release a hardware revision for the
dock that includes an integrated graphics chip that can boost the Switch’s
capabilities, just like hooking up a thunderbolt external graphics card to a
laptop.
These improvements should not only be feasible but also
provide good value for the cost. The New Switch and dock can remain backwards
compatible with all of the software that has already been released, while
allowing new software to take full advantage of all of the capabilities of the
new hardware. Previously released software should even be able to see
performance increases when played on the new hardware. The upgrades would not
be too drastic and would be similar to upgrading from the 3DS to the New 3DS.
