The Nintendo Switch 2 leverages NVIDIA’s DLSS technology more extensively than initially thought, but it might be harder to detect compared to PC versions. While early footage hinted otherwise, the tech experts at Digital Foundry confirmed during a podcast that the Switch 2 indeed uses DLSS to improve visual fidelity. 
The challenge in spotting DLSS in action comes from the differences in image characteristics, especially when compared to PC, where the effects of DLSS are often more pronounced.
Upon closer inspection, there are identifiable signs that DLSS is being utilized, like disocclusion and aliased edges, as seen in the latest update to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, the Switch 2’s use of DLSS seems to vary in terms of performance and quality. It appears that there are multiple modes of DLSS available, similar to those on PC, but in a lighter form designed to fit the Switch 2’s hardware capabilities.
In handheld mode, DLSS can upscale games to 1080p, while in docked mode, the resolution can reach 1440p or even 4K. But the tradeoff is that this lightweight DLSS version struggles with motion clarity. A prime example is in Fast Fusion, where although 4K is achieved in docked mode, the image looks good in still shots but loses detail during fast movement.
Hogwarts Legacy, another title on the Switch 2, also uses this lighter DLSS version. Despite the game’s slower pace and higher base resolution, it still doesn’t match the sharper quality seen on a PC version with full DLSS support. However, there seems to be another, more robust DLSS variant available, as evidenced by Cyberpunk 2077, which shows closer-to-PC quality, particularly in terms of motion and image sharpness.
Beyond the graphical advancements of DLSS, the Switch 2 also offers a surprising backward compatibility feature that benefits older titles. While updated games take full advantage of the system’s improved specs, many unpatched titles also see significant performance boosts, making the Switch 2 a valuable upgrade for both new and existing game libraries.