Nintendo Switch 2 performance woes could improve in 2026 as more games will reportedly implement DLSS next year

Nintendo took its sweet time developing the Swtich 2. The result is a console that is an improvement over the OG Switch in almost every conceivable way. However, while the Switch 2 is much more powerful than its predecessor, there is still a large performance delta between the Switch 2 and the current-gen consoles like the Sony PS5. This lack of performamnce, especially in the Switch 2’s handheld mode, becomes abundantly clear when running modern AAA games.

For instance, Elden Ring reportedly performs poorly on the Switch 2. Similarly, Borderlands 4 allegedly also struggles to run on the console. So, it quite clear that, like the OG Switch, developers will need to put some serious efforts into making their games perform well on the Switch 2. 

Fortunately, Nintendo seems to have foresaw these issues, as the Switch 2 supports Nvidia DLSS. Per a new rumor by NashWeedle, the Switch 2 dev kits have received a DLSS update. As a result, more Switch 2 games will use DLSS in 2026, which will go a long way in addressing the Switch 2’s performance issues.

While NashWeedle also shared a ton of other details, mostly regarding upcoming game launches, the leaker’s DLSS rumor is quite important. Nintendo apparently didn’t deliver many dev kits to game studios, including some major AAA developers. This could explain the performance issues in Switch 2 games, as developers might not have the appropriate hardware to test the games on.

It is possible that, in the coming months, Nintendo will deliver dev kits to more studios. Combined with the reported adoption of DLSS, games landing on the Switch 2 could be considerably better optimized.

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