Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2: DLSS Confirmed, Performance Modes Detailed

Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2: DLSS Confirmed, Performance Modes Detailed

One of the most ambitious titles planned for the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk 2077, has been showcased through work-in-progress code during the console's launch tour. Digital Foundry recently had hands-on time with the game at an event in London, and although their initial thoughts have been shared, many questions remained. A key question was whether the port utilized Nvidia DLSS – and now the answer is a resounding yes, establishing it as the first known game to employ this machine learning-based upscaling technology on the new Nintendo hardware.

DLSS on the Switch 2: A Closer Look

CD Projekt RED confirmed that they're leveraging a version of DLSS specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch 2, capitalizing on Nvidia's Tensor cores. Critically, DLSS is being utilized across all four available modes: both handheld and docked configurations, and in both performance and quality settings.

Before diving deeper, it's important to understand the context. As visuals become increasingly demanding in games, achieving high resolution and smooth performance simultaneously becomes incredibly challenging. Developers often turn to techniques like rendering at a lower resolution and then "upscaling" to the target output resolution. This is where DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) comes in.

How DLSS Works

DLSS isn’t just simple upscaling; it’s a sophisticated technique building on Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA). While TAA uses information from previous frames to enhance image detail, DLSS adds a vital ingredient: a neural network. This network analyzes the lower-resolution frame, past frames, and motion vectors, effectively reconstructing a more detailed image. The Switch 2's inclusion of machine learning tensor cores makes DLSS a natural fit, although it does come with a computational cost.

Graphics Modes and Performance Targets

CD Projekt RED is aiming for distinct graphics modes, offering both quality and performance toggles for both handheld and docked play. Here's a breakdown:

  • Docked Mode:
    • Quality Mode: 30fps at 1080p output resolution with dynamic resolution scaling.
    • Performance Mode: 40fps at 1080p output resolution with dynamic resolution scaling. This mode is ideally paired with a 120Hz TV, delivering a new frame every three refreshes.
  • Handheld Mode:
    • Quality Mode: 30fps at 1080p output resolution with DLSS and dynamic resolution scaling.
    • Performance Mode: 40fps at 720p output resolution with DLSS and dynamic resolution scaling, utilizing the handheld screen's 120Hz capability.

It's quite an ambitious goal to be able to hit those framerates while maintaining decent visuals, all on a handheld! The use of dynamic resolution scaling is key to maintaining consistent performance.

Pixel Counts and Scaling Ranges

Initial analysis of the limited footage revealed pixel counts ranging from 540p to 1080p, which initially raised concerns about whether DLSS was even active. However, CD Projekt RED confirmed DLSS scaling can range from 2x and up per axis. In practical terms, this means:

  • 1080p Modes (Docked Quality & Handheld Quality): Input resolution can vary from 540p up to 1080p, depending on the GPU load.
  • 720p Handheld Performance Mode: Input resolution can vary from 360p up to 720p.

Essentially, the game dynamically adjusts the base rendering resolution to maintain the target frame rate, and DLSS then works its magic to upscale the image to the desired output resolution.

A Different Implementation of DLSS

Interestingly, the implementation of DLSS in Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2 appears to differ slightly from how it's typically used on PC. On PC, post-processing elements are often rendered at the same output resolution even when using DLSS, meaning they maintain a high level of detail. However, early indications suggest that Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 might be rendering those post-processed components at the input resolution instead.

This potentially explains why some noticeable "stair-stepping" effects are visible in the footage, making pixel counting possible. Furthermore, the version of DLSS being used appears to be the older convolutional neural network version, not Nvidia's newer DLSS 4.0 transformer model.

Despite these nuances, the fact that CD Projekt RED has successfully integrated DLSS into Cyberpunk 2077 for the Nintendo Switch 2 is an impressive feat. It marks a significant step forward for the platform and opens the door for other developers to explore the possibilities of machine learning-enhanced visuals on Nintendo’s next-generation console. The game is scheduled to launch on June 5th alongside the Switch 2 itself, and it will be fascinating to see how the final product performs and looks in the hands of players.